PNG Air Services signs agreement to boost aviation industry

By CLARISSA MOI
PNG Air Service Ltd (PNGASL) signed an agreement with Aireon’s space-based automatic surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) in Port Moresby yesterday to provide improved services in the aviation industry.
PNGASL chief executive officer and managing director Captain Ted Pakii said the introduction of the space-based technology or broadcast air traffic surveillance service would provide much more improved services to the industry in terms of reliability, efficiency and safety.
Pakii said this was part of the organisation’s modernisation programme that started in 2010.
“The holistic programme includes the modernisation of all our systems, facilities, people and processes,” he said.
“This includes all communications, navigation and surveillance facilities as well as our air traffic management system.”
He said due to the changes in the country, challenges included mountainous terrain, weather, vandalism and theft, landowner issues and unreliable third party service providers in terms of power supply and communication links.
“Because of these challenges, we have deliberately chosen to introduce the space-based technologies to reduce our reliance on ground-based facilities.” Pakii said.
“We have so far introduced the global navigational satellite system (GNSS) instrument approaches for major airports around the country, satellite-based datalink communications.
“This space-based surveillance tool will complement our terrestrial-based ADS-B facilities and our brand new mode ‘S’ secondary surveillance radar.”
Aireon vice-president customer affairs Peter Cabooter while welcoming the partnership said it outlined the visionary strategy placed within PNGASL.