Air Niugini on a high

Air Niugini, the national airline of Papua New Guinea serves both domestic and interna tional routes with a fleet of modern aircraft.

When it commenced operations 24 years ago it had one plane, a Fokker Friendship, which flew a single route.

Today, the airline has a fleet of 13 air craft and serves eight international routes and 21 domestic ports.

The latest acquisition to the fleet are the Dash 2008 aircraft, which take over the routes previously serviced by the Dash 7s.

The Dash 2008 has 36 seats and a freight capacity which Air Niugini believes will be beneficial to PNG's valuable min ing accounts.

Before choosing the new aircraft, Air Niugini conducted an extensive evaluation of various types of aircraft and Dash 2008

was chosen for its suitability for the PNG aviation environment.

The aircraft is capable of operating into narrow gravel airstrips, at altitudes of up to 1500 metres and where temperatures are high - averaging between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius.

Unlike many other aircraft and older models of the Dash 8, the latest technology Dash 2008 can operate with maximum payload under these conditions.

The 2008 will also have no difficulty making rapid ascents and descents. To fly to Popondetta, for example, requires tak ing off from sea level, climbing over 3600 metres over the Owen Stanley Ranges and then almost descending to sea level again.

The Dash 2008 is equipped to handle the difficult terrain.

Other beneficial features of the Dash 2008 are its speed and relative quietness.

Flying time is considerably reduced, thus

increasing Air Niugini’s frequency on domestic routes.

All Dash pilots and engineers have undergone conversion traiming appropriate for the Dash 200 B’s.

In addition to servicing major centres within PNG, Air Niugini’s rroutes extend to Honiara, in the Solomom Islands, and Australia, where it se;rves Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns.

The airline also flies to Singapore, Manila, Hong Kong, Jayapuira in Indonesia and, in July this year, comnnenced a week ly service direct to Osaka, im Japan.

Due to high demands, Air Niugini has doubled its airbus service imto Cairns, the airline says.

As Air Niugini approaches its 25th year of operations, it has plans to further devel op not only as a national asset but as a regional carrier within Asia and the Pacific. ■