Sasu's journey to the remote corners of Papua New Guinea began with a simple dream: to fly helicopters in challenging environments. A chance encounter in New Zealand led him to the rugged beauty of PNG, where he would face some of the most demanding flying conditions. From the towering peaks of the mountains to the isolated villages along the Fly River, Sasu's experiences would shape him into the skilled and resilient pilot he is today.
Sasu, a Finnish pilot, found himself in the heart of Papua New Guinea by a stroke of luck. After years of flying tuna purse seiners, he was seeking a new adventure. Back in 2015, a chance encounter with the training captain for Manolos Aviation Ltd led him to this remote and rugged country.
“I had my sights set on a red cross job in Africa, and eventually helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) further down the line – for this I needed twin-engine experience, so I funded myself a type rating on a BO-105 in New Zealand that fit the bill at the time,” Sasu recalls.
“The instructor for the course happened to be the training captain for Manolos Aviation Ltd. He referred me to the CEO Jurgen Ruh, and soon, I was on my way to Papua New Guinea.”
Sasu's initial impressions of PNG were nothing short of breathtaking. The untouched wilderness, towering mountains, and hidden villages were a far cry from his familiar foreign landscapes.
“Naturally there was a lot I had to learn, but luckily I had already visited Rabaul quite a few times during my time out at sea, so I wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with the country,” Sasu said.
“I found most folk very curious and warm people. Even in the case of not sharing a single common language (with perhaps some elders in remote villages) you can connect with someone by simply sitting down with them, maybe sharing food or drink, or with few words of pidgin.”
Flying in PNG presented unique challenges, however, these challenges also taught Sasu valuable lessons about adaptability, resilience, and planning.
“From a flying perspective, the lack of aviation-infrastructure created some challenges, the terrain makes radio transmissions difficult, and there are not many places to refuel or stop for a night if you have to divert or make a change of plans.”
“The weather is also extremely unpredictable, and combined with the mountainous terrain, care must be taken not to get caught out.”
“The years there taught me a lot about planning, to always have different courses of action in your toolbox to make sure you are not out of ideas if Plan A doesn’t work out.”
“PNG is, to this day, the most demanding rotary wing environment I have been subjected to. Hot, high-altitude flying in a mountainous tall-canopy jungle with very unpredictable weather, it's something else.”
Few of Sasu’s task back then was doing precision external load lifts to Mt. Rajun at roughly 9,000ft, it was a highlight at the time!
One of Sasu's most memorable experiences was working with YWAM Ships to set up dental clinics in remote villages. He was able to make a tangible difference in the lives of the local people.
“There are a ton of memorable MEDEVAC missions and various odd jobs but probably one that stands out as a interesting cluster of memories was a collaboration effort with YWAM in 2016 along Fly River, setting up day-clinics in remote villages with focus on dental treatment.”
“I helped out the doctor as a second pair of hands for many days in various villages and it was a thoroughly interesting and rewarding experience.”
Sasu's time in PNG shaped him both personally and professionally. The challenging environment taught him the importance of staying calm under pressure, thinking critically, and embracing the unexpected.
“My time in PNG very much shaped who I am as a person and as a pilot, the challenging environment taught me resilience in the face of adversity, to keep calm and figure it out, and patience to accept things beyond control,” he said.
“The Manolos staff, and Mr. Ruh, were all a very helpful and wonderful bunch. The team was supportive and handled the pressures of ever-changing schedules and taskings common to charter aviation, and especially Ruh, was always keen to give people a chance.”
After leaving PNG in 2017, Sasu continued his flying career in Europe, where he gained experience in powerline laser-scanning and eventually secured a job as a pilot for an air ambulance service in the Mediterranean.
“I did a few years of powerline laser-scanning with helicopters around Europe to fund and pursue an Instrument rating and ATPL studies to further the plan of working in HEMS.”
“Currently, I am employed in the Mediterranean flying an EC135 air ambulance, doing patient transfers (secondary-HEMS) with a team of a doctor, a nurse, and a technical crew member.”
Sasu's adventure in PNG was a testament to the power of luck and the importance of embracing new challenges. His experiences flying in the tough geographical area of PNG helped him develop the skills and resilience needed to succeed in his flying career.
“Working for Manolos helped me not just in terms of building character but in terms of career development as well.”
He is grateful for the Manolos Team. “Tenk yu tru!”
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