By their final airfield survey, Captain Molfa Muri and Lieutenant Arnold Komeali were putting a new specialist skill into practice.
The two Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) personnel have completed PNGDF’s inaugural Airfield Survey Course, delivered by RAAF airfield engineers from September 28 to October 9, ahead of Exercise Kapa Pisin.
Lieutenant Komeali said the course enhanced his understanding of airfield planning and operational readiness.
“The course provided valuable knowledge and practical skills in airfield assessment, runway measurement, terrain evaluation and obstacle identification,” he said.
“Applying these skills within PNGDF will strengthen our capacity to assess and maintain airfields, identify potential hazards and improve the safety and efficiency of military aviation operations.”
Airfield surveys involve collecting and analysing information about runway surfaces to determine suitability for aircraft operations. The findings help planners and aircrew manage risks to aircraft and airfield infrastructure and assess whether operations can be sustained.
Delivered by Squadron Leader Chris Barry and Flight Lieutenant Matthew Adi, the two-week course combined classroom instruction with fieldwork at Mendi, Telefomin and Green River. In the second week, students surveyed an airfield in one day before producing a report the next, repeating the process across all three locations. The final survey served as their assessment.
Flight Lieutenant Adi said the students quickly translated theory into practice.
“I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the students picked up and applied the skillset in the field,” he said.
‘I’m helping to upskill another nation – it’s an honour to represent my country in this endeavour and to showcase our niche capability to the world.’
Learning to communicate risk was one of the harder parts of the course.
“Report-writing is a shared challenge for both RAAF and PNGDF surveyors, as it takes practice to communicate risk to aircrew,” he said.
For Flight Lieutenant Adi, the course also represented a personal milestone. He gained his own full survey licence in 2023 and now travels to new locations every two to three weeks conducting surveys.
“I’m helping to upskill another nation – it’s an honour to represent my country in this endeavour and to showcase our niche capability to the world,” he said.
PNGDF Air Transport Wing PAC-750 aircraft supported access to remote survey locations in mountainous terrain, highlighting the close working relationship between surveyors and aircrew.
The students graduated with a basic airfield survey licence, empowering them to lead surveys in PNG with ADF oversight. They will put their new skills to use during Exercise Kapa Pisin, monitoring Green River airfield as the PNGDF Air Transport Wing leads its first exercise.
“The knowledge gained will contribute to building local expertise and reducing reliance on external technical assistance,” Lieutenant Komeali said.
“Overall, the training will support the PNGDF in developing a more capable, self-reliant and operationally effective air capability to meet its national defence and security responsibilities.”
