DECISION TIME FOR MOUNT HAGEN
An early wake up was in store for us for an 8:00am departure from the Madang Resort back to the airport. As mentioned, it is recommend for flights to land in Mount Hagen prior to 11am to avoid heavy afternoon showers and build-ups.
We have Bob, from Mount Hagen, flying his Baron ahead of us to report the weather conditions.
Bob is essentially a local and flies the area all the time. The type of approach, instead of being ILS or RNAV, is called NDE DME CloubBreak - new terminology for me. Yet, last night at dinner, Bob told us that the approach isn't working and that the airport needs to be VMC for a visual approach. As a reminder, Mount Hagen sits in higher mountainous terrain. The runway is at an elevation of 5,350 feet in the middle of a valley with PNG's highest peaks in its vicinity. The decision process of "go" or "no go" is rather complicated.
Bob called at 9:00am and reported overcast conditions in Mount Hagen with a 1,000 foot ceiling and improving.
He's calling back in 30 minutes.
By 10:00am, after minimal improvements on the conditions and taking the pulse of the group, I made the decision to alter our plans and fly to Cairns, Australia instead. This would forego our stop in Mount Hagen, PNG - six airplanes, flying VFR, with lower than ideal ceilings, in mountainous terrain for the runway was not to my liking.
We secured fuel for the aircrafts and awaited the customs agents for permission to depart the country - we do not want a remake of our departure in Russia.
By 1:00pm we are good to go and making our way to Australia!
We have Bob, from Mount Hagen, flying his Baron ahead of us to report the weather conditions.
Bob is essentially a local and flies the area all the time. The type of approach, instead of being ILS or RNAV, is called NDE DME CloubBreak - new terminology for me. Yet, last night at dinner, Bob told us that the approach isn't working and that the airport needs to be VMC for a visual approach. As a reminder, Mount Hagen sits in higher mountainous terrain. The runway is at an elevation of 5,350 feet in the middle of a valley with PNG's highest peaks in its vicinity. The decision process of "go" or "no go" is rather complicated.
Bob called at 9:00am and reported overcast conditions in Mount Hagen with a 1,000 foot ceiling and improving.
He's calling back in 30 minutes.
By 10:00am, after minimal improvements on the conditions and taking the pulse of the group, I made the decision to alter our plans and fly to Cairns, Australia instead. This would forego our stop in Mount Hagen, PNG - six airplanes, flying VFR, with lower than ideal ceilings, in mountainous terrain for the runway was not to my liking.
We secured fuel for the aircrafts and awaited the customs agents for permission to depart the country - we do not want a remake of our departure in Russia.
By 1:00pm we are good to go and making our way to Australia!
Fuel cistern pulled by a tractor...
the wait is on
No seating area at the airport so steps will do
until next time Papua New Guinea
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