Back in Nabire

After three weeks off, I was scheduled to head back to Nabire, on the north west cost of Papua, to cover for the regular pilot there whilst he’s on holiday. I don’t often get to fly from Nabire but love the change of scenery and variety of airstrips flying from here offers.

Unloading the PC-6 in the long grass at Modio, Papua

The best way to get to Nabire when arriving into Jakarta is by taking the overnight Garuda flight to Biak. From there I can take a company flight in a Cessna Caravan to Nabire. It’s a long and tiring journey which certainly never gets any easier, especially if arriving all the way from the UK. Door to door it was a 57 hour trip, crossing eight time-zones and all over-nights spent in the air.

LHR – SIN – CGK – UPG – BIK – NBX

Cessna C208 on short finals into Nabire, Papua

Arriving mid-afternoon into Nabire, I then got the afternoon to relax and get ready for my first week back on the job. After unpacking my things, I opt for a quick refresh of the PC-6’s emergency procedures and limitations, just to make sure I’ve not forgotten anything. I always feel a little rusty after time away from flying but I find the moment I hit that starter switch, it’s like getting back onto an old, familiar bike.

PC-6 cockpit, early morning departure

Nabire operations start a little earlier than Timika with take-off around 05:30 just as the sun is rising. We would start as early in Timika but the airport terminal doesn’t open until 06:00 which makes getting cargo and passengers in before that rather tricky. Although I’m not especially a fan of getting up at 04:30, those sunrise departures from Nabire are pretty special.

Koteka wearing local out for a strole, Pogapa Papua

To compound the challenge of returning to flying, I also had to contend with flying a different Porter from the one I usually fly in Timika. Whilst they are technically identical, being hand-built there are quite a few noticeable differences from one Porter to the next. The Porter based in Nabire can sustain it’s torque to a higher altitude which is handy but the beta range of the propeller isn’t as good and it feels more sensitive in pitch than our Timika based Porter. Whilst none of these are a problem, it does take a little getting used to.

Children helping upload in Timepa, Papua

Air rifle wielding child, Papua

Typical operations from Nabire are flying rice, cargo and passengers from this bigger hub into the remote villages. Once at the villages we sometimes fly the locals from one village to another or simple back to Nabire. The main reason folk want to come to Nabire is for school, to sell their wears or simply to visit friends and family. As with Timika, these kinds of flights are subsidised.

Short finals into Minou, Papua

240m of airstrip at Minou, Papua

Despite picking up a bit of a cold on my journey back to the jungle, I’ve had a really enjoyable week flying from Nabire. I’ve flown to a dozen or more different airstrips including a few new ones which adds in an extra level of enjoyment for me, as I get to hone my flying skills further whilst seeing even more of what Papua has to offer.

Kegata airstrip, Papua

Next week I’m scheduled to be back in Timika, so will enjoy these last couple of days flying in Nabire and take as many photos/videos as possible to share with you all on here.