Heavy aircraft maintenance starts in PNG

Air Niugini has started performing in-house heavy maintenance checks in Port Moresby.

The airline’s acting chief executive officer, Tahawar Durrani, said it’s a milestone for the airline to carry out the checks on its Fokker 100 and 70 aircraft onshore.

He said the arrangement would save the airline almost PGK2.5 million for each heavy maintence check. Previously, an aircraft had to be sent overseas for such maintenance.

“The board has been pursuing this for some time. Whilst it is challenging to have such checks done onshore, we are pleased to be able to implement this process for the first time with our jet aircraft at our own hangar and by our own engineers.

“It is a landmark achievement that will save Air Niugini millions of kina now and in the years to come.”

He said that apart from cost savings, the new arrangement will also result in improved facilities and capacity building in terms of local knowledge and up-skilling of maintenance staff.

Air Niugini’s general manager of aircraft maintenance, Benedict Oraka, said heavy maintenance checks on Fokker aircraft are carried out every two to three years. Lighter checks are done every two to six months.

“Our team is all set and motivated to do this heavy maintenance and refurbishing work, including installation of new business class seats,” he said.

Air Niugini has been approved by the PNG Civil Aviation Safety Authority to do the checks.

It is a landmark achievement that will save Air Niugini millions of kina.

Check up … in-house heavy maintenance checks are now being done by PNG engineers who have gone through years of extensive training.