Timika airstrips checkout 2

Following on from last week, I’ve spent this week flying into the local airstrips we fly to most regularly with a more experienced pilot sitting beside me. It’s a great way to help get you up to speed with some local knowledge and tips.

Approach into Tsinga, Papua

In addition to flying into the same airstrips as last week, I’ve also been to a few more; Agadugume, Lumo, Kenyam and Sinak. The last two I’ve actually been to a few times before when I was a co-pilot flying the Cessna Caravans in Papua two and half years ago. It’s amazing to see how little Sinak has changed and how much Kenyam has changed. More on that in a future post.

Approach into Sinak, Papua

The scenery throughout Papua will never cease to get old. It’s just stunning! From the jagged peaks, to the desolate plateaus it’s all incredibly humbling to be piloting my little aeroplane over such remarkable terrain. Some of it reminds me of the Highlands of Scotland with it’s cold, heather strewn mountains whilst other parts look more like the western coast of Wales with it’s jagged cliffs.

Large lake on a plateau to the north of Puncak Jaya, Papua

The plateaus are quite deceptive as they’re fairly flat and I often forget I’m actually flying at 10,000ft+ thanks to the terrain being only 1000ft below. Agadugume airstrip is located on one such plateau at 8700ft. It’s quite a novelty doing circuits at 10,000ft!

Approach into Agadugume, Papua

On the ground in Agadugume at 8700ft

Another great thing about flying with more experienced pilots is that you get to checkout new airstrips even they’re not been to yet. The other day I flew into Lumo which is a nice short airstrip located at the junction of the “Freeway” valley and Sinak valley.

Lumo airstrip, Papua

Local people of Lumo, Papua

Of course when you land somewhere new, the locals are all pretty excited to see you and start asking about if they can have subsidised routes organised. We then pass this information back to our office and if it’s possible, a new route can be opened.