08 August 2014

Australia supporting safer skies for PNG

Australia and Papua New Guinea today announced an upgrade of air traffic communications that will boost the safety of air travel across the nation.

PNG Air Services Limited (PNGASL) and Indra Australia signed a contract to upgrade and modernise PNGASL’s Very High Frequency (VHF) radio communication systems.

The Australian Government has committed AUD7.4 million to the project through the PNG – Australia Transport Sector Support Program, which improves transport infrastructure across PNG to support social development and economic growth.

PNGASL CEO Captain Ted Pakii said: “PNGASL’s commitment to the people of Papua New Guinea as well as the aviation industry is to provide modern equipment and systems. This will contribute towards achieving our vision of becoming a world class air navigation service provider and achieving a seamless airspace globally.

“The effective maintenance of communications equipment is vital to ensuring the safety and security of commercial and non-commercial flight operators. This project will significantly improve the reliability and the range of coverage of aeronautical communications across the country which in turn will improve safety and security for aircraft operators and the public.”

Minister-Counsellor, Development Cooperation, at the Australian High Commission, James Hall, said: “Australia is proud to support this improvement to aviation communication accuracy and reliability in PNG. This infrastructure upgrade will assist the aviation sector to support continued economic growth and private sector development.

“Tourism activities will benefit from safer skies. I am pleased a new VHF radio site will be established at Mount Fala in Central province to improve communication with aircraft servicing the Kokoda Track, and that the site in Mount Konokalang in New Ireland will be upgraded.”

The project will establish new remote VHF radio sites at Mount Dimodimo in Milne Bay, Mount Mission in Morobe, and Mount Otto in Eastern Highlands Province. As well as improving VHF radio systems and channels, the project will improve power supply infrastructure by installing hybrid diesel power generators and solar power systems at the radio sites.

PNGASL and the Australian Government have been working together over many years to achieve the shared goal of consistently moving towards full compliance with international aviation safety and security standards. Recent initiatives include a detailed survey of the 29 major airports and 418 remote airstrips across PNG, the signing of a partnership agreement in 2013 and the recent signing of PNGASL’s key PAMAS Project that will deliver a new Air Traffic Management System and state-of-the-art surveillance technology in Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ABDS-B) and Multilateration (MLAT).