Is it really dry season?

We’re supposedly in dry season now but I can’t remember seeing so much rain over the past couple of weeks. Every night here in Malinau it’s rained pretty much the entire night and well into the morning. And we’re not talking a bit of UK style drizzle, no when it rains here it properly rains!

Weather radar image en-route to Binuang

And as if the en-route weather wasn’t tricky enough there’s the other issue of landing and taking off with it. All that rain makes for some very wet runways which can seriously increase the landing and take-off distances required.

Long Layu’s runway after a heavy shower

Aside from all the rain it’s been operations as usual here. Due to some scheduling issues, there’s actually been four Porter pilots on duty at the same time for much of the month, all sharing just one aircraft which has led to a lot of free time. So, a few of us have started cooking and baking things when not flying.

Jamie and Sam tuck into a steak and chips dinner!

My legendary oatmeal and raisin cookies

I’m just glad I have my mountain bike here to burn off all the extra calories we’re all eating at the moment!

Going back to flying, here’s a few photos that have been lurking on my camera’s memory card over the last week.

Anyone know what this twin is(was)?

Cockpit visitor

Random photo of me by a friendly front seat pax