Captain Timothy Narara tames the A380 ‘beast’

By MALUM NALU

As Papua New Guinea celebrated 35 years of independence on September 16, the small Papua New Guinea community in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, also got together for a mumu for their motherland.

They included the small group of PNG pilots and their families based in UAE, as well as PNG women married to expatriates and now living there.

Among this small group of nationalists was Captain Timothy Narara, who only three days earlier, had made history by being the first Papua New Guinean to be licensed to fly the Airbus A380, the largest passenger airliner in the world, for Emirates Airlines.

Captain Timothy Narara in the cockpit of the Airbus A380

Ironically, his elder brother Granger, who is vice president of flight operations with another UAE airline Etihad, was the first Papua New Guinean to fly the A380 – which pilots call ‘The Beast’ – a couple of years ago but that was only a trial test flight with Airbus.

Timothy Narara has gone a step further than big brother by being licensed to fly passengers on the A380 to anywhere in the world.

An Emirates Airlines A380 which Captain Timothy Narara is flying

“The first flight I did was on the 13^th of September,” he tells me on Skype from Abu Dhabi on Wednesday evening.

“I went to Heathrow Airport in London.

“I started the conversion course for the A380 on the 15^th of August this year.

“Because I’ve been flying Airbuses for the last 12 years, the conversion to the A380 only took me about a month and a half.

“If you’ve flown an Airbus before, the philosophy is pretty much the same.

“I started the conversion course on August 15th and finished on September 10th.

“On the first flight which I did, there was an instructor with me.

“I went to Bangkok on September 20^th and on the 29^th of September 29^th, did my final ‘check’ flight to Toronto.

“Once you complete your ‘check’ flights, you are by yourself and can fly anywhere in the world with a first officer.

“I went to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, yesterday (Tuesday, October 5).

“My next flight in a couple of days is when I go to Beijing.”

The boy from Dobu, Milne Bay province, now aged 45, tells me that he should never have become a pilot in the first place, as he graduated as a second lieutenant from the PNG Defence Force Academy in Lae in November 1984 as an infantry officer.

Timothy Narara (right) with fellow PNGDF pilot Eddie Nigea beside an Arava

“I graduated from the Defence Academy as an infantry officer,” he laughs.

“Later on, I changed course, because there was an opportunity to become a pilot.

“I went to Melbourne for a course, I was lucky, I passed, and I stuck to that.

“There was an opportunity and I took it!”

Timothy Narara was born in Madang Hospital in November 1964, when his father was working there at the power station.

 The family then moved to Kudjip in the Western Highlands shortly after as the father got a job with the Nazarene mission hydro station and Narara went to school in Banz until 1973 when the family moved back to Esa’ala in Milne Bay province.

“I completed primary School at Esa’ala primary school and continued grade 7 to 10 at Wesley High School on Fergusson Island, completing year 10 in 1980, then did year 11 and 12 at Sogeri National High School.

“I joined the PNGDF after completing year 12 in 1982.

“I was moved to Igam Barracks in Lae to do officers’ training at the PNG Defence Academy and successfully obtained a commission as a second lieutenant in November 1984.

“ I then was fortunate enough to get selected to attend a pilots’ course sponsored by the defence cooperation programme with Australia,  and was sent down to Melbourne in 1985 for 12 months,  returning to PNG rated on the Nomad aircraft in December 1986,  and shortly after that started flying the IAI Arava. 

“In 1987, I attended an instructor’s course in Australia which was completed and followed by a year of instructing at the RAAF Flight Training School in Point Cook, Australia.

“The Bougainville crisis was in full swing by this time so I returned to PNG in December 1990 and was deployed to Bougainville in early 1991 with my RATS comrades.

“Flying in Bougainville was one of the most-challenging times as we were often fatigued and under extreme pressure from all the elements, be it environmental, human or combat-orientated.

Timothy Narara (left) and Paul Boga in an Iroquois helicopter in PNGDF flying days

“The guys flew extremely well and we all came out pretty much intact.

“I left the comforts of the military as a major in June 1994 and joined Air Niugini as a first officer on the F28 and later on got my command on the Dash 8.

“In June 1998, I left Air Niugini and moved to the United Arab Emirates and joined my brother Granger, at Emirates Airline, in the United Arab Emirates.

“  I started on the Airbus A 310/A 300 as a first officer and at that time the airline only had about 30 airplanes, all wide bodies, and flew to about 40 or 50 destinations.

“I got my command two and a half years later on the A330 and also flew the A 340.

“To date Emirates has a fleet of 150 airplanes and growing, comprising of B777-200, B777-200LR, B777-300, B777-300ER, A330-200, A340-300, A340-500 and the A380-800.

“In September of 2010, I moved across to the A380-800 as a captain.

“The aircraft operates with a crew of two pilots and a total of 24 cabin crew and can carry up to 517 passengers seating 14 first class, 76 business class and 427 economy class.

“It is the largest passenger aircraft in the world.

“To date Emirates has 12 A 80-800 aircraft and should have 15 by the end of the year.

“Deliveries will begin again towards the end of next year until there are over 90 A380s.”

The good news for Papua New Guinea is that another PNG pilot at Emirates Airlines, Goroka boy Captain Locklyn Sabumei, will next month do the conversion to the A380.

Timothy’s elder brother, Granger, leads two other PNG pilots at the other UAE airline company, Etihad, who are Captain Hans Pederson of Bougainville (ex Air Niugini who flies the Boeing 777) and Captain Terry Togumagoma of Milne Bay (ex PNGDF who flies the Airbus A330/340).

 But for now, life of good for Timothy Narara and his wife and Sogeri sweetheart Nellie, from Tufi in Nothern province, and their three sons.

Batman...Captain Timothy 'Tico' Narara and wife Nellie in UAE

“I’ve wanted to fly the A380 for a while,” he tells me.

“I want to do this for a couple of years and see how it goes.

“I can never tell the future, however, I’d like to come back to PNG someday, as I’m a citizen and I hold a PNG passport.”

Ice falls in Komo

More than 2,000 people in Komo and Mananda villages in the Southern Highlands have been affected by frost, The National reports.
A villager (pictured) showing a chunk of ice found in his garden on Monday afternoon. 
Other villagers also found their gardens and surroundings affected and have called on the government to assist them. 
It is understood that LNG developer ExxonMobil officers are in the area assessing the situation.

Big push for Papua New Guinea hydro-power

Qld premier to spearhead talks with business sector next week

 

THE proposed hydro power plant in Gulf province from which electricity would be undersea-cabled  to Queensland is gaining momentum, with premier Anna Bligh spearheading the talks with Townsville business leaders, The National reports.

The Cairns Post reported that the Queensland premier would meet with business leaders in Townsville next week to promote plans to import hydropower from Papua New Guinea for use in Queensland’s north.

“Bligh will govern Queensland from the north next week, basing herself in Townsville from Oct 11 to 16,” the newspaper reported yesterday.

She told parliament she would  be sharing with Townsville business leaders’ information about plans to import green power generated from Purari River to Queensland via an undersea cable.

She said she would also meet with federal independent MP Kennedy Bob Katter and Mt Isa state MP Betty Kiernan, about the project.

Bligh also revealed she plans to travel to PNG in December with representatives from Origin Energy, which is pursuing the hydropower project with PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd.

“I will be joining with the CEO of Origin Energy to speak at a business breakfast of Townsville business leaders about this project,” she said yesterday.

The premier last month signed a memorandum of co-operation with the PNG government, Origin and PNG Energy Developments Ltd to begin investigations into the multi-billion dollar plan.

A comprehensive feasibility study was expected to be finished in 2012 and PNG green power could be pumping into the national grid at Townsville by 2020.

The 50:50 joint venture between Origin and PNGSDP could ultimately see the hydro-power plant built at Purari River, the country’s third largest waterway located in the Gulf province.

Last month, Origin chief executive Grant King said the ongoing assessment of the project was consistent with his company’s pursuit of renewable energy opportunities.

 “This would be the first project to deliver year-round baseload renewable energy into mainland Australia,” King said.

Bligh also said for the project to be viable, PNG needed a baseload customer for the power, which her state would become.

“If successful, this project would be a massive win-win for both PNG and Queensland, opening up new opportunities for all of us,’’ Bligh said.

Deputy prime minister Don Polye said it was a milestone to have the governments come together with the private sector in a partnership to develop such an important project.

 

 

City time-bomb

NCD police overpowered by influx of people

 

By THOMAS HUKAHU

 

The National Capital District is sitting on a law and order time bomb, The National reports.

This warning came from the city’s top policeman, metropolitan commander Supt Fred Yakasa.

Yakasa said the increasing number of people moving into Port Moresby from other centres, and from overseas, was presenting a major problem to them and was really stretching them.

“NCD police need more support to manage law and order problems in the city.

“We lack resources and manpower and need urgent help,” Yakasa said.

He was speaking as city residents came to terms with another brutal killing, this time a premeditated murder of a first-year law student at the University of Papua New Guinea.

Yakasa said where there were more people moving about in a place, there was bound to be more problems.

He said police were doing all they could but they could only stretch so much. And, that was the case with Port Moresby.

“Our situation is not helped with the absence of reserve police personnel, a task force or a dog unit. All these must be looked at seriously to help us do proper policing of the city.

“I know the department’s executive management team is trying hard to assist my men, but I think our politicians must also see the realities and assist police in their work to maintain law and order in the city,” Yakasa added.

He also thanked community leaders who had worked tirelessly in their communities to resolve problems at their level.

Yakasa said: “I really appreciate those leaders. It is very encouraging to hear of leaders like that who are helping to maintain law and order in their communities.”

Law and order was everybody’s problem, not just the police, he added. 

Yakasa also appealed to the public to respect the rule of law and, under no circumstances, take the law into their own hands.

Port Moresby city’s population is estimated to be around 450,000, although some government authorities said the number could be as high as 600,000 due to a high influx of people, especially from the highlands, in recent years.

The increase in population was placing a stress on utility and service providers for electricity, water and sewerage.

A national census due to start this year to determine the country’s population, and the population in towns and cities like Port Moresby, had been put off due to lack of funding by the national government.

 

 

Fright of a lifetime flying Air Niugini

By ALPHONSE MUAPI

PNG Electoral Commission media

 

PASSENGERS travelling on yesterday morning’s Air Niugini flight from Port Moresby to Lae and Manus got the scare of their lives when the aircraft developed technical problems midair soon after take-off, The National reports.

The 78 passengers on flight PX 292, from Port Moresby to Lae and Manus, were shaken when the Fokker 100 had to take off and land twice at the Jackson Airport.

The F100 aircraft developed technical problems soon after take-off at 9.45am.

It started experiencing technical problems with its landing gear about 10 minutes into the flight when the aircraft was about to cruise over the Owen Stanley Ranges.

The captain, trying not to cause panic among passengers, calmly announced over the aircraft’s public announcement system that, due to technical problems with some of the aircraft’s flight equipment and for the safety of passengers, he had to return to Port Moresby.

The plane landed safely at 10.15am at the Jackson Airport. Airport fire and rescue trucks were on standby at the PNG Defence Force air wing.

On arrival, passengers were advised by the captain not to disembark as Air Niugini’s ground staff (aircraft engineers) would have a look at the aircraft’s landing gear and clear the aircraft for a second take-off (departure).

After 45 minutes, the all-clear was given for the plane to fly. However, just five minutes after take-off from Jackson Airport, the captain’s voice came on again, apologising and advising that, unfortunately, they could not make it to Lae because the problem with the landing gear had re-occurred.

The plane was back on the ground at 11.30am.

During the second landing, a female passenger sitting in row 13 fumed, and said in Tok Pisin: “Festaim mipela kamdaun na mi tok long mipela go daun na kalap long narapela balus, tasol yupela no sapotim mi. Nau, lukim wanem samting kamap (the first time we landed, I said we should all leave this aircraft and board another. However, nobody supported me and, now, see what has happened).”

Passengers were all advised to disembark after the “second arrival”, and they did so calmly with some anger.

Luggages were also unloaded from the faulty PX 292 to another F100 aircraft that departed Port Moresby for Lae at 12.15pm.

“I got a scare of my life and decided not to board the other aircraft to Lae.

“I came out of the boarding lounge, caught a cab and went straight home,” Alphonse Muapi, writer of this story, said.

A statement released later to the media by Air Niugini’s corporate affairs department said there was no emergency landing at the airport.

“We wish to confirm that PX 292 from Port Moresby to Lae and Manus was delayed due to a technical defect and the situation did not require an emergency landing but to return to Port Moresby.

“The aircraft, after take-off, encountered an anti-skid defect and the pilot in command applied the standard operating procedures by electing to return to Port Moresby,” the airline stated.

 

MPs disgusted with axe murder

THE axing to death of a university student in Port Moresby has drawn widespread condemnation, with Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye warning that those responsible can expect no less treatment, The National reports.

“I do not think we should allow such heinous and barbaric behaviour to continue in our communities.

“Those responsible for this crime must realise that our laws will ensure that they can expect nothing less.

“Taking a person’s life away in a premeditated fashion is inhuman. It is uncivilised,” Polye said.

Mining Minister and Kompiam-Ambum MP John Pundari also condemned the cold blooded killing in Port Moresby saying he was appalled by the brutal killing of Christopher George Kalupai, a first-year law student at the University of Papua New Guinea.

“This is a complete disgrace, a slap in the face and has tarnished the good name of the rest of the law abiding citizens of our capital city,” he said.

Pundari wanted those responsible for the murder to immediately surrender to police and urged police to speed up investigations.

The late Kalupai, from Enga, was allegedly hacked to pieces by rival clansmen from Wapele village, Laiagam, after being dragged out of a PMV bus in Morata, Port Moresby, on Monday.

Police Commissioner Gary Baki was also disgusted with the killing and vowed that his men would “wipe” the killers from the rest of society.

“This payback and tribal war killings is totally uncalled for. It is animalistic and uncivilised.

“I call on the so-called Highlands leaders to cease their chest beating and political garbage to address these tribal fights which is an ulcer in their societies.”

Moresby Northeast MP Andrew Mald called on the Department of Justice and Attorney-General to immediately enforce the law which has been passed by parliament.

He said the country was losing many intellectuals and businessmen who could make a big difference in the overall development of this nation.

Mald said the judiciary must now act if we want to put a stop to horrific and senseless killing as if they were doing it their little village back home.

“Port Moresby is the country’s capital and not a place for some bunch of animals to practice and bring their village tribal differences,” he said.

“How can we put a stop to such barbaric actions of some inhuman bunch of group of people?”

Mald claimed that if the death penalty was not implemented, then the country should expect more innocent people would be killed and that perpetrators would think that they could get away from the law.

Lions Club of Lae needs your help

It will be smiles all round for the Lae Lions and Lioness Clubs members on Saturday, Nov 20,  as they gather for a special occasion as part of the reformation of the Lae Lions Club.

Club cecretary Jerry Manjawi with sick boy at the Angau Hospital children’s ward

Lae Lions Club branch president, Lion Namon Mawason, has confirmed that the immediate past district governor of Lions for Papua New Guinea and Northern Queensland, Lion John Muller, will be visiting Lae on this day to meet with the members of both the Lions and Lioness Clubs and to update them on Lions activities and programmes right around the world.

Muller said: “It is a great honour for me to return to Lae and to represent our current district governor Patrick Lynch for this formal visit to the club.

“Many years ago Lions had a strong presence in the local Lae community, and it is great that I am here and able to assist the new club as it continues to grow membership and build towards again being a chartered Lions Club.”

The Lae branch club currently has 15 members, and needs to recruit further community-minded people so that it can reach the minimum number of 20 Lions required to enable the club to again charter and be recognised as a club in its own right.

Mawason said: “The Lae club branch members and their families recently celebrated Papua New Guinea’s 35^th independence day on Sept 16, 2010, by visiting the Angau Hospital children’s ward and presenting some gifts - drinks, biscuits and ice cream - to the children as part of the service activities we do for our community.”

Club members preparing at Coronation College before proceeding to the hospital

He thanked Lae Biscuit Company and Laga Industries Ltd for contributing biscuits and ice cream for the Children.

Lions Club International is the largest service club organisation in the world, with over 1.36 million members in more than 48,000 clubs in 205 countries world-wide. Membership in Lions is by invitation, is open to all community-minded people, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender, colour or disability.

Anyone wishing to know more about Lions should contact Mawason on phone (675) 76863219 or secretary Jerry Manjawi on (675) 4721011.

“We would love to see many new interested people at past district governor Muller’s visit on Saturday evening, Nov 20, so that they may learn more about Lions and also be invited to join our club,” Mawason said.

For further information and photo opportunities:  Namon Mawason (675) 7686 3219 / namon.mawason@lbcgroup.com.pg