Air Niuguine maintains higher standards for Pilot Recruitment.

Air Niugini still maintains a very high standard for its minimum pilot entry requirement with thorough and comprehensive recruitment processes.

Chief Executive Officer, Simon Foo said this following recent claims in the media that the airline was recruiting cheap expatriate pilots for direct entry captain positions.

Mr Foo said “ Air Niugini requirements are higher than most other airlines due to the environment that we operate in. We have a vigorous, comprehensive and detailed recruitment process that the pilots go through before they are confirmed to their positions.”

Air Niugini also has its own internal training program which the airline capitalizes on to increase capacity and promote pilots from one aircraft type to the other. This company process is to recognize loyal staff of the Airline.

The new pilots being recruited will help to increase capacity, filling in areas where our pilots have moved up from.

The airline’s in-house training for this year has already commenced at the end of last month.

Mr Foo said “ We currently have four serving Captains and two First Officers being promoted on Fokker 100 aircraft, two captains on the B 737 with more promotion inline for pilots on the B737, Q400 and Dash 8 aircraft. It’s a very thorough and compliant process.”

Mr Foo concluded that Air Niugini has a proud safety record to maintain and will not in any way jeopardize its current pilot recruitment standard.