1 May 2024
Students from Port Moresby Technical College had the opportunity to visit the 35 Squadron detachment and tour a RAAF C-27J Spartan deployed to Papua New Guinea under the Defence Pacific Air Program.
PNG Defence Force Air Transport Wing personnel also provided tours of their new PAC P-750 aircraft.
The students had the unique opportunity to observe the inner workings of the C-27J while RAAF technicians explained the electrical and mechanical operation of the C-27J.
Detachment Commander Flight Lieutenant Ben Howlett said the intent of the visit was to give the Port Moresby Technical College (POMTECH) students an experience of how the end of their training could look if they chose to continue in the aviation world or work with engines.
“We’re hoping at the end of today, they’ll have a greater appreciation of our aircraft and they’ll be motivated to finish their education,” Flight Lieutenant Howlett said.
The engagement was an opportunity for students to talk to pilots, loadmasters, and aircraft technicians from both Defence Forces, as the head of the college's mechanical department Aquila Kasu explained.
“It’s good exposure for the students, looking at avionics, aircraft engineering, and airframes," Mr Kasu said.
"This is a good introduction for courses we are running in the future."
Both mechanical and electrical students participated, including Shantelle Treloggen who is currently studying maintenance, fitting and machining (MFM).
“It’s a great opportunity for us to come out here and to have this practical experience; as MFM students, by looking at aircraft engineering we can be confident in the parts of the plane,” Miss Treloggen said.
“It has always been my dream to work in aviation. After MFM I can become an aircraft engineer later on so I’m very excited to be here.”
The PNG Defence Force Air Transport Wing and 35 Squadron have a special partnership as sister squadrons, working side by side under the Flights for Excellence Program and Australia’s Defence Cooperation Program in PNG.
The Commanding Officer of the Air Transport Wing, Lieutenant Colonel Doug Vavar, said it was important conducting this visit as the students interested in avionics and aviation trade will potentially find themselves working at the wing alongside 35 Squadron.
“It’s a different dimension when they come here and talk to the military personnel. They get to see two militaries together, the PNGDF and RAAF,” Lieutenant Colonel Vavar said.
“We have a long history with POMTECH. We had a previous Commanding Officer who was a former student of the college, so it’s good information for the students to have something to work towards.”
The Defence Pacific Air Program is part of an Australian Whole-of-Government effort to increase presence and capacity in the South West Pacific, and will initially focus on airlift operations in PNG.
