Alphonse Kaita has had a dream since he was a small boy. He would watch aircraft fly over his mountain village and dream of one day being able to fly one of them. This project is about keeping this dream alive.

Alphonse is from a subsistence farming village near Tapini in Papua New Guinea. He excelled at school in the village and later at Tapini. He was sponsored by his Tapini parish and Monivae College, Hamilton, Victoria, to attend Monivae, completing Year 10 last year. While at Monivae he completed the first stage of pilot training with Sharp Airlines with the support of a generous benefactor. Before he returned to PNG he was presented with his wings for a recreational pilots licence. 

Alphonse in the Hamilton Spectator with his wings.

Alphonse with his instructor, Peter Sobey of Sharp Airlines.

Alphonse has been studying Grade 11 at Sogeri National High School, Port Moresby, PNG this year. 

As with any skill, it needs to be practiced. There are no suitable aircraft with instructors in PNG for him to practice. Other options were investigated and the most suitable is for him to travel to Hamilton over the Christmas school holidays to maintain his flying skills. 

This project is for part funding as there are supporters contributing to parts of the effort.

• Aircraft and instructor time is generously funded.
• Accomodation and land transport is provided

This project is to cover his flights to and from Australia.

Alphonse's home airstrip - Tapini

Tapini airport. Alphonse's Aunty and her friend are sitting talking on the runway.

For a taste of the notorious challenges to fly into Tapini, check out this YouTube clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOOf5GxBmx4

Aircraft land on a short downhill before the the runway goes uphill at a gradient about 8 to 10%

Alphonse is the first Goilala born pilot. Goilala is the broader district around Tapini. It is a particularly remote and disadvantaged area of Papua New Guinea, Australia's nearest neighbour.

While in Australia, Alphonse made many friends. 

• He played footy for Cavendish (This is where the Fonz name came from)
• He was a CFA volunteer.
• He worked at Henrys Hydraulics
• He spent time with Nelson Aeroplane Company, staying with Nelson Men's Shed members.
• He boarded and studied at Monivae College
• He attended St Marys Catholic Church

A small help from each will help Alphonse keep the dream that he has has since he was a small boy.

The funds will be used to fly Alphonse from Port Moresby to Melbourne. 

If enough is raised it will cover a return ticket. 

If more is raised, it will go to the same thing next summer.

(The target has been set to cover the one way flight as crowd funding is all or nothing)

Alphonse is from a subsistence farming village - the eat what they grow. There is a small income from the peanut garden. 

His Mum now lives in Port Moresby and the low nurses wages make it a challenge to support her children going to school.

His step-dad works as a guide on the Kokoda Track and supports their children. Return flights to Melbourne would cost 2 to 3 months wages.

There is no opportunity for part time work in PNG for Alphonse to self fund his flights.

The funding for his flights needs to come from his Australian supporters - that includes you.

The dream of a career in aviation is an enormous challenge for a Tapini boy. Keeping the dream alive now will help him applying for a cadetship with Air Niugini after grade 12.