Women crew flies high
The National, Tuesday June 30th, 2015
LINK PNG’s flight PX 900/901 last month featured an all-female aircrew.
It was the first time the airline’s commercial flight over Papua New Guinea skies had an all-female crew.
Link PNG is a subsidiary of Air Niugini.
A crew of five led by Captain Beverly Pakii had First Officer Nicole Koleala and cabin crew Julie Tamdodo, Ulato Avei and Veapi Ranu on a return flight to Tabubil from Port Moresby’s Jackson Airport.
Air Niugini had an all-female crew on board four years ago under the command of Captain Bona Yasi.
Link PNG chief executive officer Daniel Wanma said it was a milestone for women of the country. “Working in a male-dominated profession, it is certainly exciting to find an all-female crew serving our customers,” Wanma said.
“Given the successful programme, many more girls will be joining their ranks in the future.”
Pakii, 29, became the first Papua New Guinean female pilot to achieve command of a Dash 8 aircraft under Air Niugini’s pilot cadet programme.
Pakii’s and Koleala’s fathers are former Air Niugini pilots Captain Ted Pakii and Captain Nat Koleala who flew Air Niugini’s Fokker 27 and F28 in the 1990s.