MEDIA RELEASE
19 November 2009
SOLOMON AIRLINES LIMITED UNDERTAKES TRAINING ON THE DASH8
Solomon Airlines announced that it has sent three (3) flight attendants to Port Moresby for training on the Airlines PNG Dash8 aircraft in preparation of a possible long term arrangement for the Dash8 operations in Solomon Islands.
The Flight Attendants have been undergoing training for the past 3 weeks and involves being aligned to the Airlines PNG standards that is governed by CAA of PNG (Civil Aviation of PNG) as the aircraft is a PNG registered aircraft and will remain so for the duration of its lease.
The training will involve basic Aircraft endorsement and policies and procedures of Airlines PNG together with further training in First Aid; Emergency Evacuation and service standards on board as this aircraft only requires one (1) flight attendant on each flight.
The three cabin crew identified will give Solomon Airlines a seven day operation and will cover sick; and or recreational leave and days off.
The three selected crew include Carol Wickham; Paul Boka and Gordon Vuguni whom have all been internationally trained and very experienced flight attendants.
It is anticipated that once trained, and subject to their line training and release within the Airlines PNG system, they will accompany the aircraft on its delivery flight from Port Moresby to Honiara on or around the first week of December 2009. The airline indicated that although the final signature is as yet to be applied to the agreement, most of the technical and terms of the contract have been basically agreed to and Solomon Airlines is awaiting the final contract expected this weekend.
The airline indicated that when the final agreement has been executed, a new schedule will be immediately put into place from the beginning of December, or thereabouts, to cater for the immediate high internal Christmas travel expected.
The airline spokesman said Management “congratulated the crew as, according to Airlines PNG reports, they are doing extremely well to date and do not foresee any problems with their qualification on this aircraft type in the near future”.
