Micah assures public of airline safety

Caption:  Public Enterprise Minister Ben Micah

By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, February 11, 2015 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)

THE Minister for Public Enterprise and State Investments, Ben Micah, reassured Members of Parliament and the general public yesterday that the safety of Air Niugini passengers would not be compromised following the mass resignation of pilots from the national airline following salary reductions.

Concerns were raised during the first sitting of Parliament for the year by Member for Chuave Wera Mori, who was concerned of the drain of many experienced pilots.

“This morning when I woke up I realized that I would not be flying into Kundiawa as a consequence of (almost) 50 pilots’ resigning from Air Niugini,” Mr Mori said.

“We have two groupings in Air Niugini (other Link PNG) that serve major ports like Port Moresby Nadzap (Lae), Goroka operated by F100 Aircraft and secondly little aircrafts that fly into little places like Bulolo, Tari and others.”

“Can we guarantee to the travelling general public the safety of flight operations will not be compromised as a consequence of this new arrangement.”

In his response Minister Micah reiterated that the safety record of the national airline was as sound so as that it would not compromise the safety of its passengers.

“First of all assure travelling public that use our national airline, that in no way that the issue of the pilots compromise the air safety record of Air Niugini which is an outstanding ones in the whole world.”

“More than 60 years in the operation of this company, there has never been a single crash where it has placed the airline as one of the safest.”

“Though it flies in one of the toughest rugged, challenging conditions in the world, the pilot situation will not compromise the safety of our passengers.”