Kodiak Country

Monday 3/21/2011.  Today it all came together in so many ways.  Not only was this my last day to fly in Papua, (I started the three day airline journey home the next day) but it was also the day that has the most challenging weather, and the most challenging airstrips!   



Kono Strip Directory



Our first destination was Kono, which has a very short (360 meter) airstrip with 9% slope.   This airstrip has an 8:30 a.m. wind curfew,  meaning if we are not on the ground by 8:30, we will have to come back tomorrow.  The weather was not looking great.  It was good enough for us to depart and take a look, and if needed, go back on to Sentani or to Wamana in the Baliem Valley. 



The weather is not looking good for Kono

We loaded freight and passengers and launched off to see what we would find.  When people think of MAF they naturally think of airplanes, however, MAF has several other ministries critical to supporting missions.  MAF teachers provide education of missionary kids, MAF distance learning provides theological training for pastors in remote areas, and MAF network, email and radio services help connect  missionaries in remote areas to the outside world.   In Papua, MAF operates and maintains a large network of High Frequency or HF Radios for missionaries and villages.  Each one of these remote runways has an HF Radio that monitors the radio network.  This allows MAF pilots to communicate with someone on the ground and receive the status of the weather from the base station in Sentani, or from the HF on the aircraft.  It gives the villages access to critical emergency medical flights and to request supplies.   In some areas of Papua the HF network is being replaced by cell phone service, but there are still many gaps in the cell phone coverage.   Today we learn over the HF that clouds and rain have closed in on Kono, our first airstrip.  We let our passengers know that we will not be able to get them in.  We divert to Wamana to drop off the passengers and the freight.  We will bring them back to Sentani at the end of the day and try again tomorrow.



Mountain Obscuration is a big problem in Papua



Mike works the weather with patience crossing through the mountain pass in the North Gap to get us into Wamana.  It is an interesting mix of low cloud, rain and other aircraft traffic.  One aircraft at a time up and down through the large hole in the weather near the airport is all that can be accomplished.  An instrument landing system would be of tremendous help here.  As we cross the ridge line into the valley, Mike points out the wreckage of a DC3 that impacted the ridge.  This CFIT accident had a very unusual outcome, everyone survived and walked to safety.   Unfortunately, there are many aircraft wrecks to look at here in Papua and all are reminders of the perils of flying in this part of the world. 

   


The yellow and white dot is all that is left of a DC3 after CFIT

 

Our next destination is Lelambo, another short strip located just over the mountains from the Balium Valley.  We work the weather out, over the mountains and down into the long valley that the airstrip rests in.     Mike works the weather with skill and patience to get us to our destination.



From Lelambo, it is back to Wamana to pick up our passengers.  On the approach into Wamana we pass over the wreckage of a BAE-146, a mid-size commuter aircraft.  It flew into a hill short of the runway a few years ago trying to scud-run in at 140+knots.  No survivors.  There is a distinct difference between methodically working weather, always having an "out" in mind, and blindly diving into weather hoping for the best with no other options.   Here the difference is usually life and death.  MAF trains extensively so that our pilots are equipped with the right skill, knowlege and equipment to handle this type of flying safely.  It is also a reminder to be continually praying for the missionaries that live in this part of the world.  As hazardous as the flying is, driving is actually more dangerous. 

The weather never really improved the whole morning and by early afternoon there were thunderstoms to deal with on the way back to Sentani.  This was definitely the day to be in the Kodiak.  In addition to great performance in and out of short runways like Lalambo, the Kodiak has all the latest technology in the cockpit.  Synthetic Vision System or SVS, as well as terrain displays, allowed us to see a three dimensional and map view of the mountains and valleys around us while flying in limited visibility.  With these tools in the cockpit available to a well-trained pilot, the Kodiak should never be involved in a CFIT accident.  Traffic is also displayed on the map in the cockpit, allowing us to see the progress of incoming and outgoing aircraft in limited visibility.

  On the way back to Sentani, the storm scope,  large moving map and traffic display allowed us to work around weather and traffic conflicts to get our passengers comfortably to our destination.   The level of safety and additional situational awareness these systems bring to pilots in this part of the world is amazing.