Airstrip surrounded by smoke-filled hamlets at over 8,000 ft. One of the lower base camps for climbers of Mt Whilhelm. Mt Whilhelm is about 15,000 ft, the hightest mountain in PNG.
Just land beyond these gables/markers and you should do just fine. Although, the rough ride uphill means holding the nose wheel off the ground as long as you can.
The weathered and defunct Airlink terminal. Company went belly-up on July 27, 2007. Guess what the bench is used for nowadays. See answer below.
Yep, that's right, to watch local Rugby league footy. The rwy is also delicensed by the PNG Civil Aviation Authority, so the apron is now a rugby field. BUT, you can still land there in FSX, although watch out for the locals.
Logs beside the JCB airstrip.The island of New Guinea has the second largest remaining rainforest in the world after Brazil. I despise large scale deforestation by RH and others. I am not promoting them here, but only illustrating the company's association with the strip. OK, enough politics.
Lookout at the JCB village. Follow directional sign at the airstrip to the village. Or fly chopper there to the village-pad.
Harvested logs defining what the strip is all about - logging.
Airlink, Gasmata. Tractor tyres ready to be shipped out by plane. Perhaps, wrong consignment.
The 820m rwy is dissected by an old road. The road is now cordoned off by fences both sides of the rwy. Rwy gets slippery when wet this part of the strip, so plan ahead.
Magrove village on an island due east of GMA strip.
Dirt apron with 100LL Avgas station. Fuel up and fly due east to the island of New Britain; a 60nm trip. The Germans preoccupied these parts long before any other colonials in mid 1880s, hence the name, Finschaffen, Dregahaffen, etc.
Spot the tree hut by the terminal area? No, it's not ATC equiped, it does not send or recieve smoke or drum signals; just plain watch tower.
The mountain backdrop is a dormant volcano and is over 5000ft msl.
Nicely thatched homes at the strip.
Just so you bushpilots know, the local policemen (blue 4x4 landcruiser) share the terminal with other strip users. So no monkey business here.
Airstrip Manager's residence near the strip.
Oh, and the only ride to the local village in Gloucester, has been sitting here for the last 20 years. So catch a ride with the local police to the village - no questions asked.
Gonaili (GON). Bush strip at sea level with its own challenges. One way in and out with mtns within immediate vicinity of both ends.
Customized dirt rwy. T/O rwy 12, ldg 30. You have a sharp curvy left turn approach at below 600 ft to 30. Watch the coconut groves at both sides of the steep turn.
Airlines PNG terminal. Seems lonely with the sign falling off.
Bulolo is a small Gold mining town with a fascinating colonial history dating back to the 1940s. Airport is situated at 2,240 MSL with the rwy extending 1,333m in lgt.