31 October 2013

Survey to improve air safety

PNG Air Services Limited (PNGASL) has signed a contract with AAM Pty Ltd of Australia to provide a detailed survey of the 29 major airports and 418 remote airstrips across PNG.

The geodetic survey will update air navigation charts and provide pilots with very accurate reference points covering aerodromes, communications, navigation and surveillance installations.

This data is also an essential requirement for the new Air Traffic Management system which will be installed within the next two years in PNG.

The K7.378 million project is funded by Australian Aid under a cooperation arrangement between PNGASL and Australia which includes further upgrades to aviation technology and more skilled air traffic management staff.

PNGASL Managing Director and CEO Captain Ted Pakii commented that PNG Air Services are very grateful for the ongoing support provided by the Australian Government.

“This is another project in the ongoing program to continually improve air safety in the PNG airspace,” Captain Pakii said.

Australian Aid PNG’s Minister, Development Cooperation, Stuart Schaefer, said Australia and PNG share a partnership goal of improving aviation services to comply with international safety and security standards.

Under the partnership, Australia has supported initiatives including a K6 million security upgrade at Jacksons Airport, an air traffic control training simulator, upgrade of navigational aids and support for PNGASL to improve financial management.
A geodetic survey is a land survey with corrections made to account for the curvature of the earth’s surface.

AAM is a leading provider of surveying and mapping services to Government and Business across the Asia-Pacific Region.”