Earthquake in PNG

On Feb 25th a 7.5 earthquake hit Papua New Guinea in the Komo area. It was the strongest we have experienced since our arrival in 2011. In fact, it was so strong that I was on the way out of the 2-storey building I was sleeping in, when it finally stopped. Madeleine and the kids were on their own in Telefomin. Our house lost a header tank (water tank on the roof to provide water pressure), and they were without water for a day. Other than that, we were spared any damage or loss of life.
In Komo and the surrounding area it is a different story, however. Over the past few years a lot of effort has gone into that region as a plant for Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) has been build. With it came sealed roads, improved infrastructure, and an airport. Most of that is to some degree damaged now, and while it mostly effects the people operating the gas plant and the people living in the town of Tari (population approx 8000), it will have a long-term impact on the growing economy.
As the rural Papua New Guinean has no car, no electricity, no running water, and a house build with material found in the bush the earthquake had little impact on their general existence. However, land slides triggered by the shaking ground covered gardens and streams, thus limiting food and water supply in some areas. It is also not clear yet, if and how many houses and people were covered by the sliding masses of earth.

"MAF is currently involved in a coordinated effort with other groups to provide earthquake relief and medical evacuations. Please see the attached story for more information and read about the first people who have been medevaced to Mt Hagen hospital."

Here the full story as released by MAF PNG:

Click here to read the story as PDF

Ridge broken away close to houses [©MAF PNG]

Badly broken road
[©Hides Gas Facebook]

Landslides to the North and South of epicentre
[©Bernard J McQueen Facebook]

DHC6 Twin Otter – A True Canadian

Flying the Twin Otter has been a new and very unique experience. For one thing, this is the first twin aircraft I fly commercially. Even though I did do a multi-engine rating during our time at Prairie School of Mission Aviation, I have not flown an airplane with two engines since. For another thing, the Twin Otter is a turbo-prop aircraft, and, obviously, a turbine is not quite the same to handle as the piston engine I am familiar with. And lastly, the DHC6 is much bigger having about four times the capacity of the Airvan, the little piston plane I flew up to now.
The Twin Otter was built to fly in the rugged environment of the Canadian North and, thus, is very suitable for PNG. With its STOL (Short Take-off and Landing) capabilities it lands comfortably on strips of 1300ft length and 12% slope. Therefore, it is able to go to places the Airvan could not, while still taking a full load in and out. Because of its big cabin it can not only take more, but also a different kind of cargo. Large iron roofing sheets, wood panelling and metal stilts for houses, water tanks, bags of cement, rolls of fencing, portable saw mill, and especially around Goroka, bags of green coffee beans.

Bags of green coffee beans awaiting their transport to a roastery

Iron roofing sheets out - coffee bags in

Heavy lifting: each coffee bag weighs 50kg - we can take about 36

Goroka and the Twin Otter

After arriving back in PNG for the third term with MAF, we traveled to Goroka for Markus to start training on the Twin Otter. Goroka is in the Eastern Highlands and with 19,000 inhabitants the seventh biggest city in the country. It is situated along the Highlands-Highway which connects the port city of Lae in the East with Mt Hagen and Tari in the West. Goroka is famous for its coffee roasteries. Thus, green coffee beans are the main source of income for a lot of villages surrounding Goroka and contributes to about halve the cargo MAF is flying in this area.

Our home for the stay on Goroka

Goroka is also famous for its Cultural Show which takes place once every year. Groups from all over the country come to present their traditional costumes, dances, and songs to tourists and locals alike. We had the privilege to visit this event for a fee of about $2 a person.

Dancing men from the Eastern Highlands at Goroka Show

In the mean time Markus has finished his training and is flying as First Officer on the Twin Otter. Compared to the Airvan the Twin Otter is a huge aircraft, able to transport 1.5 tonnes of cargo or 19 passengers. This obviously requires much more time when loading or unloading, so we seldom fly more the 4 rounds per day.

Twin Otter in front of the MAF Base in Goroka

Switzerland – here we come

Switzerland! Long awaited with high expectations, we finally arrived late March. Especially our kids were looking forward to the stay, as they were anticipating all the nice things that they thought would be available there: cars, trains, McDonalds, theme parks, etc. Naturally, they were also looking forward to seeing their grand parents, aunts, and uncles again – and of course going to school.
Staying with close friends, we enjoyed a marvellous 5 month home assignment. The weather showed off with warm temperatures, making it easy for us to adjust. Then, it thrilled the children with a few days of snow (something they wanted to see for a long time), before presenting a picture book spring and summer.
There were several highlights, most notable a week holiday for Madeleine and myself on our own, something we have not been able to do for over 7 years. Then we had a family holiday at Beatenberg and Bürchen, both small villages in the Alps. We met with a tonne of supporters, had several speaking engagements, and helped out MAF Switzerland at some functions. And last but not least, we enjoyed some of the long missed culinary treats Switzerland has to offer. Hard to imagine how satisfying a piece of freshly backed bread spread with an inch of real butter can be.

A new experience: Leaving home in the morning to go to school

Holiday as a couple and the view that comes with it

Family retreat at Theological Seminary Beatenberg

A very special cable car

Hiking in the Alps

Amazing view from the Eggishorn