CASA CN 235-100M

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force’s lone medium range twin engine aircraft, CASA CN 235-100M is still undergoing maintenance and will be grounded for an indefinite period.

Confirmed by PNGDF Chief of Force Preparation, Colonel Siale Diro yesterday, the aircraft will remain grounded as it goes through a thorough prerequisite check.

“CASA is currently going through a maintenance requirement check,” he said.

Colonel Diro said they are in liaison and close consultation with CASA PNG to make unsurpassed efforts to have CASA operational as soon as possible.

PNG Defence Force Commander, Brigadier-General Gilbert Toropo, confirmed this, saying: “Payments have been made to order the parts of the gear box from overseas.”

The Commander however, did not give a response to how much it would cost to have the propeller gear box (PGB) fully serviced.

According to the Accident Investigation Commission (AIC), the aircraft sustained an engine failure on 13^th July 2016 during a flight from Telefomin to Vanimo, Sandaun Province, necessitating the removal of the right engine PGB at Vanimo Aerodrome.