MEDIA RELEASE
23rd November 2009
PILOTS UNDER TRAINING ON DASH 8
The announcement last week regarding cabin crew training on Airlines PNG’s Dash8 aircraft has now been followed by an announcement from the National Carrier that two (2) of its senior pilots have also been selected and sent for Dash8 pilot training.
Similarly, and following the regulations of CAA-PNG and Airlines PNG standards, Solomon Airlines indicated that the two pilots, Captain Cornelius Vonseau and Captain Scott Gamiandu were selected to train on the Dash8 aircraft up to First Officer standard initially whilst they gain this aircraft type experience over a set period of time.
The two pilots have been in PNG for the past 2-3 weeks undergoing PNG regulations conversions and also initial Airlines PNG induction and introduction to the Dash8 and APNG procedures.
They are currently undergoing a ‘Dash8 Ground course’ in Maroochydore and will return to PNG for some familiarisation flights prior to going to Sydney for “simulator” training to complete the first phase of their Dash8 training.
Thereafter, Captains Vonseau and Gamiandu will undergo “line training” in PNG, flying with APNG pilots throughout their network prior to seeking to get an endorsement on this aircraft type.
“It is imperative that we, Solomon Airlines” begin the task of ‘skills’ training for this type of aircraft as there is no reason why we could not be flying this aircraft type ourselves in a few years”. The airline said.
Yet to be part of the ‘up-skilling’ required will be Engineering and Maintenance and the Maintenance Manager (Trevor Palmer), in charge of the Airlines’ Engineering facility, is about to visit Airlines PNG facilities and management to discuss a path of training for Solomon Airlines to achieve the skills set required to maintain this ‘high capacity’ aircraft through its own Engineers in the future.
Solomon Airlines advised that it expected to sign a contract/agreement to bring this aircraft into Solomon Airlines’ fleet within a very short time and hopefully by the first week of Dec to commence flying under the National Carrier’s banner for the Christmas rush soon to be upon the country.
