Between Christmas and New Years we had a Twin Otter in the hangar for a B check (250 hourly check). During this time another Twin Otter came in for unscheduled maintenance. One engine was running too hot, thirty degrees more than normal. With gas turbine engines you are able to monitor their trends of performance to see how they are operating and monitor their life. You normally know how the condition of the engine  is internally by monitoring it’s performance  trend. This engine was giving no other indications that something was wrong internally. But pointed to being an indication problem. After some troubleshooting there were some things found with the T5 indication system (measures the temperature of the turbine area). These were rectified and the aircraft was operating back at it’s normal temperature. So the aircraft returned back to service to be monitored closely.

1. Removing the CT disc (Compressor turbine) out of the left hand engine

The following Friday after New Years, the plane returned to the hangar as the engine was still indicating higher than normal. Maipson and I were asked to give an experienced Engineer assistance as he was involved working on other things. Maips (received his PT6 license last year) and I carried out different electrical tests to help troubleshoot more the problem. We found one reading that was way below limits and indicated a T5 harness problem. To be safe we carried out a HSI (Hot Section Inspection), were we split the engine and inspect the internal hot components. It was the only way to get access to the T5 harness. If there is any deterioration of some of these components it would indicate the engine running hot, as well as other trends.

2. Maips at work

By Friday afternoon the engine was apart and the inspections started. Come Monday one of our Senior Engineers arrived in Hagen and took charge of the work. After finishing the Hot Section Inspection and rectification to the T5 indicating system we started to assembly the engine on Tuesday. We worked back till 1830 that night getting it all back together. Come Wednesday morning we were able to run the engine for leak checks and carry out a performance run with some rigging adjustments. The aircraft was ready to be returned to service and towed back to the base. It would then start flying operations on Thursday (last week) as planned. It was good again to get more exposure to PT6 work, to a different problem and to see the aircraft serviceable on Wednesday. I am grateful to have an experienced Engineer with many years of experience to learn from too. It is always a blessing to work together with Maips, whether on engine or airframe.

Photos by Lazarus Nuleya

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A few weeks ago a new single Pilot from Canada arrived, Sean. He has been busy doing his orientation including language learning the last few weeks and has been staying at Naz 2 while Timon is away. Last weekend on Saturday Sean, Maipson and myself planned to hike up Mt Hangkuki and then down to the Notre Dame Secondary school.  It all sort of came together last minute on the Thursday. When Timon and myself first came to PNG in 2008 some of the MAF national guys took us up the same mountain. So I thought it would be a great experience for Sean. It would be my first serious hike since September 2009. Sean and I left our compound at 0730, walking into town to meet Maipson near Best Buy. We had a guide arranged to me us at the PMV stop, but he did not show. We found a PMV going down the Baiyer Road and climbed on board. As we traveled along there were a few mama’s on board chewing buai and spitting out the window. There was even dried red buai spit marks by my window, yuck. The PMV driver was really generous, he drove us further than he would normally along his route saving us some walking. The PMV fare for the trip was K2 (2 Kina = 76 cents AU).

1. Mt Hangkuki ahead

After getting off the PMV, we walked down the road towards Pontus (The village of one of our Engineering staff members, John). We passed different people along the way, greeting them and shaking hands. The road bridge before the village had collapsed a few weeks prior and was in the process of being rebuilt. There was a large crowd of men at the bridge being rebuilt. After shaking hands with them all, we headed down towards the river bank to cross the river and than back up the other side. When we entered the village we managed to find a guide to take us up the mountain. We continued to come across groups through out the village and would have to stop to greet people and stori (explain what we were doing) a little. We easily lost count of how many people we greeted and got tiring after a while. After a while we eventually got underway and started along the track with bit of a posse following us.

2. Scenery before the mountain

It had been two and a half years since I had last climbed the mountain. I had forgotten how difficult the track was and quickly reminded how hard the climb was. We lost most of our posse as we started our climb. There is not much of a track, it is quite steep, muddy and slippery. The national boys ascend so easily without lost of breathe bare foot, either running up or off  the track. While we slip and slide taking big strides up the track in our hiking boots. It was a good work out, but with the condition of the track it was hard to get into any sort of rhythm in climbing. All through out the hike there was thorn like plants that just cut up your hands, arms and legs. Nothing some hand sanitiser can’t treat. It took us around an hour and a half to reach the summit.

3. Near the summit with the boys, (L to R) Malachi our guide, Maipson, Sean, myself & the two boys

When we had started off from the PMV the mountain was clouded in, but by the time we reached the summit it was clear (roughly 8000 ft above sea level). We were blessed with great weather through out the day. From the summit we could see the Baiyer Valley, Mt Hagen range, Hagen central and down into the Waghi Valley. We spent sometime up on the summit enjoying the view and walking along the narrow track to the summit.

4. Near the summit, with my colonial era pioneering pose

Descending a little way down the summit we took another route to hike along the ridge line. It was a steep and slippery descent. I spent sometime skiing down the trail or sliding down. I fell over two times to the amusement of our guide and rolled my bad ankle too. I enjoyed the trail once we got past the muddy descent. Going up and down along the ridge line, except that I tore my hiking shorts front leg side. They have served well on my PNG hikes, they only had Mt Giluwe and Kokoda to do before retirement. But as the hike continued the tear became worse and I had to conceal myself once reaching populated areas. Maipson was taking a while to catch up with us, in the end it was because he had become a Botanist. He was collecting plants along the trial for his village, with the help of the three boys. We came to a clearing on the mountain where they had been clearing a steep slope for a garden, I couldn’t believe the amount of effort involved to clear that area. After this we came to a landslide area which had washed away the trail leaving it impassable. Our guide started to take us down the mountain side instead to get down to the Baiyer Road. To me it didn’t seem like we were heading where we wanted to be going. So we headed back up the mountain and crossed over a boundary line into a garden and stopped to have lunch.

5. The hike ahead after the summit

I wanted to go this way as you get an awesome open and clear view of the valley as you come down the mountain into a village. As we came into the village, people were very happy to see us again and wanted to greet us. The old mamas (Grandmothers) were the ones who were the most excited to see us each time, sometimes yelling out. We continued to hike along this road through different villages to work our way to the Secondary school on the Baiyer Road. After finding the track we used last time to the Secondary school, we decided to keep hiking along the village road. We said goodbye to our guide as he took a short cut back to Pontus and paid him for his help. We reached the end of the road at the Baiyer road just after 1500. We popped out to people’s amazement at the road and talked to a few people at the PMV stop and caught a PMV back into town.

6. Looking back after a lot of hiking

We arrived back safely into town. All three of us walked back to Tarangua were we parted ways at 1615. Twenty minutes after we arrived home, a big storm hit Mt Hagen. It was a good day out and a good cultural experience for Sean. We covered a lot of distance, altitude and witnessed some great views. I would be sore and stiff in the days to come. We had a good day of fellowship, adventure, hiking and enjoying God’s creation.

To see photos from the hike, click here

or the first Mt Hangkuki hike post, click here

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The previous New Years Eve our compound guard dog Roxie passed away. She had been sick on and off over that year. We had suspected that she was being poisoned. One way people do that here is by pouring battery acid on meat and throw it over the fence. I will refrain from sharing any other methods I have learnt while being here. Roxie was a really good guard dog, she had quite a reputation amongst the community and also within MAF. In her younger days she had made a few MAF pilots draw blood (what is wrong with that?). People walking about in the street were terrified of her. The thing that I really appreciated about her, that even with the compound gate open. She would bolt towards the open gate barking but stop at the open gate. You could also discern in her bark if something was serious or not. My favourite story of Roxie took place one time when I was heading out of the compound in a vehicle. As I opened the gate there were two big mamas (mothers) all loaded up with produce from the town market. Supporting the big market bags on their heads. As soon as they saw the gate opening, they spirited forty metres very quickly like a Rugby League player as Roxie ran towards the gate and then along the compound fence barking. As I drove out of the compound and waited for the gate to close. I thought I would see these two ladies upset. But they were standing down the street catching their breath laughing hilariously. I smiled and waved.

1. Roxie

After losing Roxie I don’t think it took too long for people to realise that there was no longer a dog on the compound. Bonn my neighbour and myself felt like we had a flank exposed without Roxie. Timon and I did some research to try and find a new dog. I had wanted to get a dog ever since I arrived in PNG. As back in Australia I had wanted a dog, but all the houses that I rented I was unable to. So I was quite keen in getting a dog, but also for security purposes. While I was on furlough Timon came across some dogs for sale in Lae. One being a German Shepard and another a Husky. Once Timon found out how much K5000-6000 (what I paid for my Landcruiser) he almost hanged up the phone. Last February Zoey (meaning Life in Greek) one of the dogs out at the MAF compound at Kagamuga had puppies. It was the first time she had ever fallen pregnant. She had a litter of five of which two survived, followed by one of the two surviving. They named her Vida which is life in Spanish, she is a miracle puppy.

2. Vida

I had jumped in quickly for the second pup, but unfortunately it died. While back in Australia on furlough I was asked if I would be happy to look after Zoey and Vida while one Canadian family were on furlough. I was more than happy as it solved our security issue short term. Not long after this I was asked if I would like to keep Vida upon their return. By the time I got back from furlough after many delays, Vida was not a small pup anymore, she was almost as big as Zoey.  Since then I have been looking after the two and it has been good having them on the compound. Last week Zoey went back out to the Kagamuga compound. She too is a good guard dog and good natured, maybe not as good as Roxie though. Since then Vida has been doing well by herself, even though she needs more attention now and wants to play fight with me. She is constantly improving and responding to small amounts of training. She is a good decoy at the moment, being big and black. Even though she might lick an intruder to death. People do think she is a little slow, but I think she has good potential as a guard dog and she is still a puppy. Hopefully she will keep improving, growing and gain her own reputation.

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Yesterday Maipson, Sean (a new MAF pilot from Canada) and myself went hiking outside of Mt Hagen off the Baiyer Road. We climbed Mt Hangkuki, it’s base is at a village called Pontus (or Engiki). I thought rather than trying to catch up with my massive backlog of photos, I would start with what is recent. Here are some photo’s from our adventure.

Mt Hangkuki Photos

Maipson, Sean and I climbed Mt Hangkukii one Saturday. It's summit is said to be roughly 8000ft above sea level (a small mountain for PNG).

35 Photos

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Last year for Christmas I had the opportunity of spending it in Goroka with my wantoks from CRMF, Dan, Shannon and their three girls (Emily, Lucy & Ella). Friday night we went out to the Christmas service at the NTM’s station and had dessert afterwards with a NTM family, which was really nice. I had a rough night’s sleep Friday night, being woken up several times through out the night by a crying Ella. Saturday morning I wanted to sleep in, but I didn’t want to make the girls have to wait too long to open presents. The girls were quite excited while opening presents, which was cute. This was followed by a nice breakfast.

1. Christmas lunch with the Wakefields & Perretts, an all Aussie event

For lunch we headed around to Michael and Rachel’s place. Michael is an Electrical Engineer and the General Manager of CRMF. It was a really nice time of fellowship with both families throughout the afternoon. It actually felt like Christmas this year (last year). The lunch was quite amazing, amongst it all there was four servings of meat. Chicken, Turkey, Ham and most importantly Lamb! The desserts were really good as well, what I remember sticky date pudding and ice cream. I ate too much and didn’t have too much for dinner that night. It was good too to hear more details about Michael’s adventure of doing the Kokoda trial back in June. Hearing his stories and thoughts, plus seeing his photo’s made the trip a lot more real for me.

2. Wakefields Christmas tree

Returning back to Dan and Shannon’s before six. Everyone was worn out after Saturday’s events. i was really exhausted from work that week, travels on Friday and sleep deprivation through out the week. Everyone had a quite evening and some went without dinner. I managed to have some toast for dinner just to keep my stomach from complaining even though I was so satisfied. It was a really good time of food and fellowship over Christmas day (last Christmas I did not have any lunch). I was really grateful for the opportunity to spend it with Dan, Shannon and the girls. I was reminded that night how easy it can be to be focused on the events of the day and the real meaning to be overlooked. It was good to dwell on different things over the weekend about Christmas, especially on Sunday (I’ll save you from a preaching). I praise and thank Jesus that He humbled himself to become a man, die and raise again to save a sinner like me.

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Last year I started a tradition I hope to do each year. Putting together a video that helps me look back on the past year. This video is half the length of last years video, which was hard to make short. I can not believe how quick 2010 past by. It was by far the quickest passing of a year I have ever experienced. It was like last month we were celebrating New Years for the start of 2010. I remember when I was little that a year was like an eternity. I have really seen in the last year how quickly life passes by. When I look back on last year it seems that I did not have as many adventures (we didn’t climb any mountains) or travel  as much as in 2009. But 2010 had just as many adventures and travels. It was a full on year with plenty of opportunities including hardships, challenges and victories. This included gaining my PNG Airframe and Aussie licenses, experiencing my first furlough, starting another term of service in PNG and burning out. I am grateful for the Lord’s faithfulness in 2010 and sustaining me throughout. And for the support of family, friends and supporters. I am excited to see what the Lord has installed in 2011 and the privilege I have to walk with and serve Him for another year,  God willing.

‘Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15

To view last years video, 2009 in review click here.

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