Western Highlands Province: How safe is our airports?

AIR Niugini’s airfares are the very expensive compared to the world’s popular airlines both locally and internationally. As a result of its very expensive fares, Air Niugini is making millions of kina annually. I wonder if Air Niugini is using some of it’s revenue to prepare in advance to meet a major air disaster or have certain procedures in place to remedy a situation if a robust air disaster does occur at it’s major airports. Most of the airports around the country doesn’t have the right equipment to combat a major air disaster if it occurs. The Kagamuga (International) Airport in Mount Hagen, for example; has only one fire truck and understaffed firemen with less fuel and other necessary equipment to cater for a major air disaster. This is a concern to frequent travelers and the general public if a disaster of a greater magnitude occurs. I was wondering how Air Niugini would handle an air disaster involving three to four hundred passengers on an F28 Air Niugini plane when there is limited manpower and resources on the ground at the airports around the country to combat such major catastrophe. I don’t want to see a similar situation experienced in Indonesia when lot of lives have been lost in one of the nastiest air disasters in Indonesian history. I hope Air Niugini is putiing some of it’s money to where it’s mouth is. The bottom line is, lives of passengers are a top priority and as such Air Nuigini or any airline company operating in the skies of PNG should make every effort to invest more money into it’s facilities so that it can be conducive to public traveling in terms of major cataclysms. Therefore, prevention is better than curing.

David Ulg Ketepa

Detorit, Michigan, USA