by Jack Lapauve Jr – EM TV, Port Moresby
Air Niugini chief executive officer, Simon Foo, says the company maintains a high standard for its minimum pilot entry requirements.
Foo says a comprehensive process is followed.
Mr Foo made these statements following recent claims in the media that the airline recruits cheap pilots for direct entry for captain positions.
“We have a vigorous detailed recruitment process that the pilots go through before they are confirmed to their positions,” Foo said.
The company says its internal training program is also capitalised to increase capacity and promote pilots from one aircraft to the other.
Mr Foo added that the new pilots recruited will help increase capacity by filling in areas where pilots have moved up from.
“The airline in-house training for this year (2015) has already commenced at the end of last month,” said Mr Foo.
Currently Air Niugini has four serving captains and two first officers being promoted on Fokker 100 aircraft, and two captains on the B737 with more promotions inline for pilots on the B767m, Q 400 and Dash 8 aircraft.
Mr Foo concluded that Air Niugini will maintain these standards and safety record as the number one airline in the country.
