AIC Commissioners

Captain Bouraga is one of the pioneers of civil aviation in Papua New Guinea. He commenced his trajectory in 1966, as one of 52 candidates that applied to join the Papua Aero Club for pilot training, and was one of the only two who completed the program successfully, obtaining a Commercial Pilot Licence.

From 1968 to 1975, Captain Bouraga flew for Papuan Airlines and Ansett Airlines. Since its inception in 1975 Captain Bouraga flew with Air Niugini until his retirement in 2009, accruing more than 22,500 flight hours in different types of aircraft including Cessna, Twin Otter, Skyvan, DC-3, F27, F28 and F100.

Captain Bouraga was the first Papua New Guinean to fly a Jet Aircraft, completing the training and being endorsed on F28 in 1977.

He was also one of the initiators of the Air Niugini National Cadet Training Scheme, in 1994.

In recognition of his dedication to the development of civil aviation in Papua New Guinea, Captain Bouraga was appointed as a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1993.

Captain Aria Bouraga was appointed as Commissioner and Deputy Chairman of the AIC on 11th December 2018.