PAUL PHELAN / CAIRNS
Aircraft were to have been banned from Australia under ICAO Chapter 3 noise legislation
Air Niugini has been given the green light by the Australian government to continue operating its noisy Fokker F28s into the country for two more years. The aircraft were to have been banned by the implementation of International Civil Aviation Organisation Chapter 3 noise legislation on 31 March. The extension means that the airline will acquire three Fokker F28 Mk4000s from the administrators of Flight West Airlines.
Following an approach by Papua New Guinea prime minister Sir Mekere Marouta, the Australian government has approved a two year deferral of Chapter 3 compliance requirements to allow Air Niugini's F28s to continue operating international services to Cairns. The approval was based on the economic, social and cultural benefits of air services between the two locations, and took into account the financial difficulties facing Air Niugini, particularly the cost of replacing the 75-seat twinjets. It was granted for the F28 Mk4000 only, and operations are limited to the Port Moresby-Cairns sector with a 21:00-07:00 curfew.
Air Niugini, which operates three F28 Mk4000s and five smaller Mk1000s, has already signed an agreement for two of the Flight West aircraft. Negotiations are continuing for the third F28, which would be expected to replace an F28 Mk1000, now out of service.
Source: Flight International
