2022-10-22_PNG North Coast Aviation 1
(AYDY-AYWS)
For October 22, 2022
Michael MacKuen

Today (and the next time) we shall return to Papua New Guinea to explore the northern mountains, first the Kratke and the Finisterre ranges on each side of the Markham Valley. And then later, the Sarawaged and Cromwell ranges further east on the Huon Peninsula. For our pilots, this means hillside and ridgetop village airstrips that will engage different talents and skills. And they will provide spectacular views of the peaks, ravines, ridges, valleys and the surrounding ocean.

This is part of the territory flown by the small independent airline North Coast Aviation, based in Lae. They are currently flying the PAC P-750. Hats off to these people for maintaining links between rural villagers and the larger commercial, medical, educational, and cultural centers. While serving the community and pursuing a true love of aviation, this can be a dangerous enterprise.

We begin with Sindeni [AYDY], a strip known well by local pilots and which is often used as a facility for instruction, practice, and check rides. Our first four airports are in the Kratke Range which was enjoyed by Papuans without European exploration until well into the 1920s. We head north, over some substantial ridges to Simogu [AYQM], a typical village strip with a one-way landing/takeoff. Then to Owena [AYWW/AYKS] which requires an approach from high to the west, over a ridge, and then down onto the uphill strip. After enjoying the valley view, we climb up to the north, again passing over mountain ridges, to Aiyura Airport [AYU] located near Ukarump village. This is the location of the Aiyura National High School, the Aiyura Agricultural Research Station, the missionary Summer Institute of Linguistics, a base for JAARS aviation and an aircraft engineering and maintenance school. A busy place.


Climbing into the rugged Finisterre Range

We depart and cross over the Markham Valley below to the rugged and heavily-forested mountains of the Huon Peninsula. The tropical rainforests host six endemic species, including the famous Huon tree-kangaroo. Our destination is Nahu [AYNH], nestled on the shoulder of a mountain in the notoriously jagged Finisterre Range. Then a circling climb over the main ridgeline, passing over waypoint [10800], to then initiate a quick descent on the other side. Our landing is at Wangeto [AYWG] which is located in a small deep basin on the north side of the mountains. Getting into that basin, and landing on the awkwardly sloped grass strip, will make for an interesting few minutes. We continue on the north face of the Finisterre Range to a beautifully situated village Bambui [BCP]. Then a descent and a turn into a rising valley for the grand entrance to Tazon [TAXO], on a cliff sited against a high rising backdrop that makes for a visually impressive approach.

We climb, and climb, up to Mengang [MEN] at 7522ft. And then we depart and climb again over the ridgeline at waypoint [9700], and then curl around the mountainside to land at Gorgiok [GORG]. This provides a view of the valley and the Saruwaged Range in the distance. Then a short hop over to Dinangat [AYDN] which has been long-served by Missionary aviation and has now developed a flourishing coffee business. The approach into a box canyon onto a descending and then ascending strip will reward careful flying.

Turning east, we fly up onto Bunguwat [AYUT] which provides arriving pilots with a stunning vista of steep mountains and deep blue sea. Next, Yalumet [AYYE] is located in an attractive narrow mountain valley at the bottom of Mount Sarawaget. Finally, we descend toward the coastline to land at the district capital Wasu [AYWS]. 

Documentation
The flightplan can be found here. Note that you will have two flight plans, one named with an appendage “_FULL” the second with ”_SPARE”. The first flight plan includes additional waypoints that indicate the correct runway for landing at the one-way strips as well as other waypoints that give a general plan for getting around the mountains. The second provides only the airports and a few waypoints. The first incorporates more information, might be suitable for overall planning, and is best displayed on a second screen or device. The second eliminates much of this detail, is less cluttered, and might be better for in-cockpit GPS usage. (This second one is translated to the Garmin waypoint-only format for use in the TDS GPS.) These are NOT designed for “set and fly the magenta” aviation. In addition, there is a short list of the airfields with the preferred runways, nominal altitudes, and brief notes.

Aircraft
Today’s schedule includes a number of high altitude village airstrips. You will probably want a STOL aircraft capable of operating at elevated fields. Popular alternatives include the Pilatus PC‑6 Porter, Daher Kodiak, the Cessna 208 Caravan, the PAC P-750 XSTOL and the DHC-6 Twin Otter. You can surely fly this route with any short-field capable aircraft (say the RV-14) as long as it can handle the altitudes. (BN Islanders have been used in this area, but their normally-aspirated engines are not ideal for today’s mountaintop locations.) I shall fly the Kodiak in the P2-SIT livery by ozzieblr. As ever, fly what you like.

Additional Scenery
While most of the airports are in the default simulator, many are indifferently depicted. I recommend the following scenery packages for a better experience. (These scenery packages will serve today’s flight and a second follow-up flight in the Sarawaged and Cromwell Ranges further east on the Huon Peninsula.)

Recommended:
Mega Mod for PNG and Western New Guinea. Wantok. This is a “must have” as it fixes terrain anomalies, cleans up current airports, and adds a number of new ones. Required. 258kb
Morobe Province 14 Challenging Bushstrips. Rudolf Friedli (cebros). This set includes a number of airports that we use for these flights. Required. 95kb [Rename (and disable) two files as follows: AYFI.bgl.OFF; FinischhafenShapes.bgl.OFF ]
Aiyura [AYU]. David Hansen (Johndoe).
Bambui [BCP], Bawan [BWJ], Dinangat [AYDN], Owena [AYWW], Simogu [AYQM]. Photosbykev.
Finschhafen (historic) [AYFI], Lae (historic) [NGLA], Nadzab (current) [AYNZ]. Mountainair.
Sindeni [AYDY]. Milosanx.

Thanks to these fine authors for their talent and efforts.

Temporarily, you can download a package that includes all the sceneries here. (1.0gb). [In this package, the two bgl files are appropriately disabled.]

Time and Weather
For takeoff on Saturday, set the simulator at 8:00 am local for October 22, 2022.
We typically prefer real weather. Flying into unprepared mountain strips is often prohibited by PNG flying organizations when the winds and visibility are limited. The Huon Peninsula can be very wet. We shall adjust accordingly.

Multiplayer Particulars
Date and time: Saturday, October 22, 2022. 1800 UTC
Where: AVSIM RTWR Teamspeak - Casual Flights Channel
Teamspeak Server Address: ts.teamavsim.com
Microsoft Flight Simulator Multiplayer: United States East server.

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

"package that includes all the sceneries here"

Mike,

It appears this links to "Hudson_Bridges_Scenery.zip"...of course maybe it's something specific to my computer.

Hi Steve,

Thanks for catching my error. Now fixed, I think. Let me know if it is not.

Hope you can make it on Saturday.

Mike

Mike,

Thank you I would like to join the Sat. flights but I have been working Saturdays. I sometimes still fly the route when I have time, so thanks for compiling them!

For the Kodiak pilots.. this is still recommended:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/khb7wgiw6ez2b1l/sws-aircraft-kodiak-wheels-ESI500.zip?dl=0

Edited October 20, 20223 yr by Bert Pieke

Thanks, Bert. Three tiny bits...

1. The Kodiak is out with another hotfix to v3.6, dated October 20, 2022. (If you can remember from whom you bought the Kodiak, go to the vendor for the hotfixes.) As Jeff pointed out, SWS are playing catch-up with Asobo’s changes in SU10.

2. Sticklers for trees might consider resetting their “foliage” to Summer for this trip. At least for Bijan’s addon, a few bits of Fall color show up near some of the addon airports – probably not as intended. (Perhaps the scenery author added special tree species that fool the “seasons” algorithm. Or perhaps these are special flowering trees.) Really not worth worrying about either way. Just a matter of taste.

3. A minor caution. We are repeating two airports from previous routes: Dinangat [AYDN] and, eventually, Lae Nadzab [AYNZ]. Pilots will want to be sure not to have activated duplicate addons from before.

3 hours ago, MM said:

The Kodiak is out with another hotfix to v3.6, dated October 20, 2022. (If you can remember from whom you bought the Kodiak, go to the vendor for the hotfixes.)

I just got the V1.3.6. download and it still has the ESI speed readout issue.. my fix is better 😉

14 hours ago, Bert Pieke said:

my fix is better

Is that the sws-aircraft-Kodiak-and-RV14-ES1500?

9 minutes ago, Ron Attwood said:

Is that the sws-aircraft-Kodiak-and-RV14-ES1500?

Two fixes for two airplanes..