Why Does This Tiny Remote Airport Have 18 FLIGHTS a DAY?

[@edward88881]

Two things you did that made this one of your best videos ever: You continued your report on the ground, showing the drive, hotel, and a couple sights. You actually spoke to locals and learned about their life and were able to bring that information back to us. Please continue doing this. The human interest aspect of these reports is equally as important as sitting in an airline seat and eating.

[@oliviabatchelor5032]

Exactly!

[@uzx151]

Another voice to this choir

[@jamjinn786]

Exactly my thoughts!!!

[@Unknown-fr5ts]

Hundred 💯 percent agree

[@elangomattab]

Definitely one of the best Noel videos. His energy when he's going to some unusual destination is so great. I was surprised about how easily it seemed the was able to get into the area despite the fact it seems to be a town built entirely for mining. Too funny how he has fans of the channel even is that remote area.

[@yanniyanni7326]

Noel, I wanted to tell you, that I am a history teacher, and during a job interview someone asked me what I like to do in my spare time… I told them that I would love to travel, but it was not possible with children and limited budget, but I loved watching Noel Phillipstravel videos… The head of School laughed and said he watched you as well all the time! Florida loves Noel Phillips❤

[@g_pazzini]

who doesn’t watch Noel? 😅😅

[@trevorwilson2966]

If your a teacher then you nothing in work time either.

[@kjjones8627]

His videos are fantastic

[@RoamingHeathen]

@@trevorwilson2966and if you were a teacher you’d know how to construct and spell a sentence in English

[@yasminbarry7941]

​@@RoamingHeathen😡

[@howardshepherdson2925]

I worked as a teacher in Tom Price 46 years ago and in those days it was all family accomodation in the small townships with shops, supermarket and full sports facilities. There was a real sense of community. Things have obviously changed a lot. There was only one, maybe two flights a day from Perth with full hot meal service and I remember having grilled lamb chops for breakfast ! The road from Parabadoo to Tom Price was not sealed and instead consisted of graded red dirt. At the end of term just before Christmas the education department used to charter a small prop Fokker nicknamed "The Chalky Special" to fly us all back to Perth. Household pets were in crates and had seats in the cabin. A great video Noel bringing back so many memories.

[@mabamabam]

Theres still plenty of locals, and shops, and sports.

[@user-ml5yw8tf8b]

What a lovely memory. Thank you for sharing it. 🙂

[@markw6745]

I worked on the railway tom price to parabadoo in the early 70s, I was 18, fantastic experience for a young man, I was up there about 6months, now I'm 71 and living in brisbane, thanks for the vid

[@martinclifford2079]

…is this Howard from LBE?

[@howardshepherdson2925]

Yes

[@tylerblackaby9132]

Noel, thank you for shining a spotlight on my little hometown. I grew up in Tom Price and seeing this video has put the biggest smile on my face!

[@judeodogwu1071]

Are you in Perth now?

[@jamielee9350]

The best thing about Paraburdoo Airport is the baggage collection point.. Ask for your luggage and they will tell you "It's on one of the carts next to the fence mate"... 🤣🤣🤣

[@phanoonki]

Had that experience in Tonga 🇹🇴

[@Fay7666]

Frankly that's a better experience than in some of the larger airports.

[@Stuart-gu6dw]

Thank you Noel I’m a huge fan of yours I like your aviation vlogs the new qantas regional planes will be the a220 soon I think and also I’ve heard the Sydney to Johannesburg flight will be switched to an a380 so you might have to do a review on that when it’s up and running.

[@88porpoise]

​@@Fay7666But if they tried to use that method in a larger airport, it would be an utter disaster. Those annoying baggage processes are largely necessary to deliver baggage to tens of thousands of passengers each day.

[@lzh4950]

When I arrived @ Kansai airport earlier this year it took a while to clear immigration, so by the time we reached the baggage reclaim hall the airport staff had already helped remove all baggage from the carousels & arranged them in neat rows. On the flip side, earlier this month, a thunderstorm at Singapore's Changi Airport prevented ground handlers from being able to work safely, halting the loading & unloading of baggage from aircraft & thus delaying some flights. A Scoot/SIA flight to Sydney even had to depart without its luggage so as to be able to reach Sydney before its airport closed for the day

[@jimstravels7903]

Noel, I hope you read this. My mom and I enjoy watching your crazy trips. We were planning to visit Australia next year but yesterday she passed away. We always looked forward to new videos. She was my best friend and travel-buddy. We travelled the world together and our last trip was to Europe at the beginning of Covid. Thank you for your videos and putting a smile on my mom’s face.

[@maryziggy8802]

May mum rest in perfect peace. Bless you

[@NervousHagrid2.0]

I took a trip to Europe just before covid with my family too, i cant imgiane if that was the last one. Im so very sorry to hear that. Hope you are feeling better soon knowing a fellwo traveler is going through difficult times.

[@standartenfuhrerhanslanda343]

Sorry for your loss. God bless you and your family. 😢

[@noelphilips]

So sorry for your loss. You have so many memories to keep your Mothers spirit alive. She will be with you on any of your future travels.

[@MIDWESTHOUNDTV]

Sorry for your loss brother just keep your head up and keep being you ❤

[@jasonbernard1277]

The human aspect, the context, the explanations on the ground, all made this video 10x better than your normal (already excellent) reviews. Good step, keep doing this!

[@noelphilips]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@philstanton231]

Absolutely agree 👍

[@bigmonmagoomba9634]

50 years ago I worked in the Homestake Gold Mine in South Dakota. In the locker room was a recruiting poster for licensed miners to work in the mines there in W. Australia. I inquired about it but eventually chickened out. I finally got to see what I missed. Thanks.

[@lindsaybrown7357]

A lot of young ones from the Eastern States where I live go over and work for a couple of years and bring home enough to buy their first home.

[@Xsophos]

For further context, the cabins are called dongas, and the rental cars are all 4WDs with lights and fluro so that they're more visible and not going to get squashed by a mining truck

[@DougPaulley]

Well, less likely to get squashed, anyway :-)

[@thomasdemoor874]

Dongas? That's an odd name. I would've called them cabindoories.

[@kaynemcclelland318]

@@thomasdemoor874 simpsons reference!

[@coover65]

Here in Australia, we call just about any transportable building a Donga. Apparently, the word is South African in origin, and brought here by Australians who returned from the Boer War.

[@paulgerrard9227]

And mine workers can also have a hot bed donga. Two workers share it and work alternate shifts and share the bed eg one day other night. Staff clean and do changeover linen etc. cleaners are fifo too!!

[@JxH]

An RAF veteran is giving a talk to a class of school children, and was trying to explain what a typical mission would be like. "So there I was, escorting the bombers to their target, when out of the blue we were attacked by a bunch of Fokkers. There were about 20 of these Fokkers. One took out my buddy, but I managed to shoot the Fokker down. Then one was on my tail and I couldn't shake the Fokker, but my pal took care of him. Then I took out two more of the Fokkers..." The teacher interrupts "Children I should explain, the Fokker was a type of fighter airplane used by the German Air Force." "Yes ma'am, but those Fokkers were flying Messerschmitts !"

[@adlam97531]

That was Douglas Bader who was invited to a girls school for a talk and lunch; my mums friend was close friends with him after her suitor was shot down while flying with him. She told many a story about him, and they had to edit out a fair amount when he was on 'This is your life'.

[@bgw33]

I want to copy/paste this comment so bad.

[@mortmorton6182]

Thanks Noel , I lived in Para for 13 years and loved it . I used to fly that little Cessna 172 Vh-Rck that was parked up . Keep these up mate

[@KellyHughes-lc7nh]

I landed in Paraburdoo as a naive 21 year old city girl from Adelaide, had no idea what I was getting into! Spent 3 incredible years living in Tom Price which was a busy, family centred community. Great memories. Just off the Para - Tom Price road is some incredible bush tracks leading to water holes and beautiful scenery. So much to explore.

[@3rdalbum]

Haha, reminds me of an Irish woman I worked with. She was on a working holiday visa and was required to move jobs and towns frequently on this visa. She had been working in Perth, and then accepted a job over telephone in Eneabba, due to start the following week. I then had the delight of telling her where Eneabba was, exactly. She was mortified at having blindly accepted a job 90 minutes drive from the nearest clothes shop, but had no choice and in the end actually enjoyed it.

[@MDE_never_dies]

I mean they’re all naive so that goes without saying

[@triarb5790]

I arrived from England to live in Karratha in 1990. My permanent residency was stamped in the Port Hedland airport shack. I instantly fell in love with the qurkiness of living remotely!

[@JEFFERYDHOFFMAN]

Thanks Noel!!! This video was awesome… one of your best. It was so interesting as you gave us a view of something interesting and at the same time spectacular. The drone footage, the HUGE mining vehicle, the “truck with CB”, and everything else was just perfect!!! Loved it! Best, Jeff

[@noelphilips]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ellacharlotte287]

as a qantaslink cabin crew member, this was such a cool insight into one of the destinations I've operated to countless times, thank you!

[@JacobEvans2]

I’m loving this new style of video where you’re flying in to report on something unique and interesting. There are so many things like this you could do that no one on KZbin has ever done. I could create a list for you.

[@angelaboyle9940]

You just described my life as a FIFO admin on a 2n1 swing from perth. Absolutely love the lifestyle. Our mine has lots of facilities I.e. gym, pool, pub, squash courts, virtual golf etc. Living the dream 😊

[@comicus01]

Does 2n1 mean two weeks on, one week off?

[@angelaboyle9940]

@@comicus01 yes

[@comicus01]

@@angelaboyle9940 12 hour shifts or 8 hour shifts? Do you get a day off in the middle or work 14 days straight? (or 12 days straight if you only work the one weekend in the middle? I'm a RN in the US. I do 3, 12 hour shifts in a calendar week. I could maybe see trying a FIFO job somewhere in the US in a small town if I did 1 week on, 1 week off. And if it paid well and the patients and work load was relatively easy (no way if it were similar to my current job, my down time is what keeps me sane). Not that I'm aware of any RN FIFO jobs in the US, though you could conceivably create your own if you are clever about your scheduling.

[@Di_Marco.Offical]

Absolutely love the extended vids with the flight and accommodation Noel, would have been good to see what food you sourced that stay. Great video thanks

[@yanniyanni7326]

totally… We would never know what these places are like if Noel wasn't giving us the inside scoop. You have become more than just airline rating, you are doing a full travel show in 25 minutes or less. Unlike other travel programs that can be ours, most of us really like the condensed version.

[@chovavzutra2593]

this is also the gateway to the Karijini national park - a place that not so many visit but its an amazing place.

[@triarb5790]

I just typed that! One of Australia's best kept secrets and, to be honest, I'm glad it is.

[@ElusiveTy]

@@triarb5790 Absolutely beautiful country, although it's probably for the best that it has and should remain a secret. There's a delicate balance between leaving a landscape untouched and appreciating its natural beauty through tourism.

[@tobyprice1092]

I work FIFO in Angola on the rigs. We would arrive in Angola and overnight in Luanda. We would then fly a beachcraft prop up to a small airport called Soyo. We would then be on a Sikorski helicopter to the rig. It was month on and month off. Good life.

[@carlramirez6339]

I'm familiar with Soyo because you can play as them in Europa Universalis IV.

[@tobyprice1092]

@@carlramirez6339 Soyo is a cool town. People are nice.

[@neilward9932]

Lived in Paraburdoo for 4 years in the 70's. Youngest daughter was born there. It was then a closed mining town owned by Hamersley Iron, we all lived in company houses ,no such thing as FIFO. Incredible social life, drove to Perth and back many a time with the wife and kids. The road out to the highway and Nanutarra road house, was all dirt then. All machinery maintenance was done on sight, no such thing as sending it to Perth. Worked in the power station, all diesel power then. Good days !

[@michaelsimonds4032]

Ì worked in Newman in the early 70s, you drove past the power station as you entered the mine. Diesel powered and it was really noisy, even driving past in a vehicle. You guys must all be half deaf!

[@neilward9932]

@@michaelsimonds4032 Definitely have hearing problems, plus tinnitus !

[@Peso255]

The superior food in PER is saved up for the Business Lounge downstairs. Either you're flying Business class or in possession of Oneworld Emerald status. They have a made-to-order pizza bar there. For the on-demand stuff, there's the private "Chairman's Lounge"...

[@jadeo2228]

good luck getting into the chairman's lounge though, that's invite only. Doesn't matter if you're a platinum frequent flyer, you won't get in without an invite

[@curtlee6228]

This is my idea of a successful, informative and adventurous travel vlog - always something new, always something interesting, always something curious, always something outside your usual comfort zone. This is in stark contrast to the boring "travel videos" from a certain couple of Swedish extraction shuttling back and forth in Qatar's Qsuite between Seoul, Singapore and Bangkok. Give me real life adventures anytime, and something genuine that I can relate to. Kudos to you Noel!

[@gazfish]

Made me chuckle when you said you didn't take the job cos you didnt want to fly away from your family for long periods

[@smilesmite6682]

@@janp8175 I think cause he does that a lot when he’s reviewing all these flights 😂

[@TheoneandonlyEETFUK]

@@janp8175no one tell Jan

[@flyingfan18]

There’s a difference between being a way from your family for 5 days a week or for two weeks every two months

[@HughWoo]

Big difference in the times away from family.

[@tompayne4481]

That this man has a family gives all balding gingers hope!

[@reillyg8178]

Great video, I really enjoy this type of thing. Quite an insight into how others live as opposed to just another flight report. Thanks mate.

[@noelphilips]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@PJRye]

You might think it's weird landing in the middle of nowhere. But it feels weirder, after driving an hour or two through the wilderness, to see a set of 737s, 717s (etc) pop up in an otherwise near-barren landscape. What, is it a parking spot for abandoned aircraft? No, just another FIFO airport. There is a lot of them in the north of Western Australia.

[@mabamabam]

I always feel sorry for the crew on those. Flying in to the arse end of nowhere on a morning flight then having to kill 8h in a donga before flying out.

[@Hazza4257]

@@mabamabam Do they really have that long a turn around? More like drop off one group of workers, pick up the next lot who just finished their swing and depart 30 mins later

[@mabamabam]

@@Hazza4257 Thats most flights, certainly all the ones at Para, in and out in 1h. But some of the more remote sites have one flight in in the morning and one flight out in the afternoon. And the crew spend the day in camp

[@kasee94]

WA don't have 717s they're all Fokker 100s and except a select few, most flights to the Pilbara turn around within 45 minutes

[@bazza945]

Mate, you should have said, "The Fokker was Chokka, okkas".

[@suefitz2498]

Noel, your enthusiasm and passion for your work is wonderful. It’s a joy to watch you really enjoying yourself as you investigate small and remote locations. As to not much there, it’s a hugely significant and sacred place for our First Nation’s peoples. Glad you got a stay in a donga as well. Keep up the great work, I love these videos ❤

[@davidhuang6869]

As an ex-airline employee, this video brings back mixed memories. I remember fondly doing day trips or overnight trips to various airports just to see what the place is all about. Seeing the FIFO miners also brings back the unpleasant memory of commuting between Chicago and Los Angeles weekly; it can take a toll on the family. Keep up the good work and looking forward to the next one. Cheers!

[@stuartgreen85]

I think possibly one of my favourite of all your videos. Great little plane, stunning scenery and nice to see these remote towns and villages.

[@Jeng4280]

Noel, I absolutely love this travel video of yours this week. Even though you were in the middle of nowhere, you still managed to have a trip that was insightful. I also love the fact that you are somewhat of a technology nerd and had one of those flying drones! And you flew from a city that one of my good friends lives in-Perth! I wished I could travel like this but budget doesn’t allow it much. Looking forward to next week.

[@estel4368]

Thank you for doing this video, and I agree with other commenters that it is one of your best because it continued on the ground. Western Australia is my home state, I live in a commuity which have a lot of FIFO workers. Really glad you spent time here in our amazing - and huge state.

[@sjc229]

Loved the welcome on board for the return flight. “Hi mate, how are ya?” That’s the best part of coming home to aus on qantas from overseas 😊

[@jasmineholt1988]

Man it’s just so cool seeing my home city in a Noel Philips video! As what many people have already mentioned, it’s awesome so see how you didn’t just show the flights itself, but also the hiring of the car and staying in the donga and talking to other people about the area and the lifestyle. One thing that’s really interesting which I found out about last year is that a lot of people that do fifo, instead of staying in Perth in their off weeks, they actually just live in Bali, as they earn so much that it’s essentially an affordable and fun way to live.

[@linhofmann4913]

Perth = Fokkerville , so many Fokkers on the ground here in Perth, the FIFO workforce is massive here.

[@frostyfrost4094]

Was there a Friendship lurking in the back ground on take-off???

[@taekatari]

​@@frostyfrost4094 C130

[@MitchellBakota]

@@frostyfrost4094 if you're talking initial power-up, I'll do you one better, it's a civilian Herc (L-100). Edit: Because I'm nosey, I went looking for it, it was N410LC in from Port Moresby.

[@kierannelson2581]

Plenty of Fokkers in Northbridge as well ;)

[@MDE_never_dies]

No Fokking way

[@KellyHughes-lc7nh]

I landed in Paraburdoo as a naive 21 year old city girl from Adelaide, had no idea what I was getting into! Spent 3 incredible years living in Tom Price which was a busy, family centred community. I hope you turned in off the main road and had a look. Great memories. Just off the Para - Tom Price road is some incredible bush tracks leading to water holes and beautiful scenery. So much to explore.

[@petittrainguernsey3297]

Used to drive trucks to Paraburdoo. It’s a looooong way from nowhere but the Pilbara is the most stunning landscape i have ever seen. Especially the Hammersley Ranges and Wittenoom gorge.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

You weren't trucking blue asbestos, I hope?! 😵‍💫😱

[@petittrainguernsey3297]

@@theoztreecrasher2647 Er, no.

[@Gav6489]

Last I checked (a few years ago) Western Australia had the largest fleet of F100s in the world with 37 or 39 plus a few F70s. Their design makes them ideal for here and they will probably hang around for a long time because there really isnt anything available to replace them. Great video mate.

[@kurohone]

Here in Canada we use ATRs and Avro RJs for the same sort of operations.

[@Gav6489]

​@@kurohone We had them here in West Australia for a while and the pilots joked that they are the only jet likely to get a bird strike from behind, because they are too slow. They werent very popular here for some reason.

[@comicus01]

The Boeing 717 (MD-95) planes are very similar and a little bit newer. Those were produced from 1998 to 2006. I remember a year or two ago seeing a video posted by a guy who flew one from I think Melbourne to Hobart in Tasmania, and the Wikipedia article states that Qantas Link also flies them.

[@Gav6489]

@@comicus01 I have flown in both the F100 and 717 and the F100 is a far superior passenger experience. To get the same number of passengers the 717 has passenger packed in like sardines

[@elwoodroadsmusic9639]

I thought the De Havilands would replace them but it hasn't happened yet!

[@scotty6346]

Great Video Noel, My daughter has left the UK and is working in Melbourne, She loves Oz and is doing the same job she was doing in the UK but earning over twice more! Oz is a good location for her to do some travelling to Asia which she loves! I think Australia has the largest number of Fokker 100's now with various airlines?

[@jw451]

Gosh I must say no matter where in the world you travel you always seem to gravitate back to our fair shores Mr Philips. You love our country and that's kinda nice. Enjoy Rgds from Syd Oz

[@keithjellis2038]

I'm FIFO mining worker in Yukon, Canada. You got +47c, we get -50c in the dead of winter. 2 weeks in, 2 weeks out. For me, its 3 flights then a bus ride to get to work.

[@benjigray8690]

No place for the uninitiated.

[@triarb5790]

It gets hotter than that too. It reaches 50oC in the summer. So a 100oC difference! Imagine going from to the other

[@milohrnic2023]

​@@triarb5790 I've done it. Gone from +45C to -45C in a couple of months between Nevada and Nunavut.

[@rais1953]

Loved this video Noel. I'm very familiar with Karratha, Port Hedland, Newman and Broome but have never been to Paraburdoo so this was a first "trip" for me. I agree with those who thanked you for the guided tour around the area. You can only see so many aircraft seats and inflight snacks and hotel rooms. This one was a treat. I love this country so much.

[@noelphilips]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@EvanOslund]

Fun drinking game: drink every time Noel says “Parabadoo” or “Fokker”.

[@Khernandez258]

I kept hearing "fucker" 😂

[@IanKemp1960]

ParaBURdoo

[@ukdavepianoman]

I'd be wasted...

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Yep. And then front up for the drug test before your first shift! 🤔😱🙄

[@IanKemp1960]

@@theoztreecrasher2647 fail = get back on the plane 😅

[@isaac3183]

Hey Noel, I’m also from Leicester! I was doing the FIFO for most of last year based in Paraburdoo and was driving around 300KM a day in the Pilbara carrying out the soil testing for civil engineering. Left after 10 months though, the heat and flies got to me in the end 😅

[@woodie70hudson87]

Another great one Noel! The drone shot was a nice addition. You truly are the BEST at what you do.☺️👍

[@amcconnell6730]

An Australian thinks 100 years is a long time, and a Brit thinks 100 miles is a long way. :D

[@monicaalauddin4422]

Awww loved seeing this thank you as ever … missing Rachel and the children … I’m on sick leave fractured😖 shoulder catching up with all your uploads .. excellent 😁😄😃thank you again lift my spirits no end 😊

[@sebastiendawson4653]

Hey Noel, I’ve been watching your videos since forever. And I don’t know if you read these comments, but I start flying for network aviation on the Fokker this week! How exciting to see my job showcased in your video!

[@noelphilips]

Amazing! Good luck with the new gig! Maybe see you onboard if I come back to do more FIFO flights haha!

[@davidrumbelow]

Looks like the North West province in South Africa, you might want to fly into Calvinia then up to Poffadder near the Black Mountain mining mineral company where clay was mined for the space shuttle tiles. The mine area is similar, it's stunning scenery

[@triarb5790]

Yes very similar country. Botswana and much of SA could easily be outback Australia and vice versa ( different wildlife not withstanding!)

[@Loststack-d2j]

The park you were standing in front of the city, Langley park was Perth's first airport, and is still able to take flights last used for red bull air race.

[@chelseajacques_]

Friend of mine is a FIFO worker, he flies in on a Monday morning onboard a chartered PC12 from Cape Town to Calvinia to work there for the week, in some parts of South Africa it's pretty big - a lot of chartered aircraft there also fly between Cape Town and places like Oranjemund, Kleinzee, Alexander Bay, Sishen - mostly mineworking jobs that much alike the Australian ones.

[@icanthearyoufool]

Yaay, it's Sunday. Noel's here. 😊

[@gileshouliston7282]

Ye nice to eat lunch with noel

[@V4raggare]

Joyeux Noel! 😄

[@cun7us]

Good stuff Noel 👍🏼 your B-roll and information is on point as always. You can really get a feel of the heat too.

[@paulygeee]

A popular trend with FIFOs, Noel, is to live in Bali. They work their one or two weeks on the mine, fly back to Perth and then back to their vila in Bali.

[@hslade8264]

I live in Newman which is about 3 hours from Tom Price so I was super excited to see you made the trip to the Pilbara! You are right in saying even though there is not much in this area of the world the landscapes are something that are out of this world. Something that I will never take for granted after I leave the Pilbara. Thanks for the great video, one of my favourites!

[@WorldWide_Dom]

I Must admit I had no Idea that you could actually take flights to the mining towns to the north of Perth, I always assumed they were charters for mining companies. Great video again Noel, I think I would have loved that drive, definitely felt like real out back Australia that! Loved that! 😁

[@dennisrettke]

Most flights to Paraburdoo, Karratha, Port Hedland and Newman are regular commercial flights!

[@WorldWide_Dom]

@@dennisrettke I had no idea. I'm going to have to go check this out now. Thanks for the info 😁 I'm guessing that they would mainly be used for mining?

[@mabamabam]

There are a lot of charter flights. But most of the ones to actual towns are scheduled services.

[@dennisrettke]

@@WorldWide_Dom yes. The companies purchase a certain amount of seats on most services (e.g. 100 out of 150). But some services are almost empty as Noel found out (you might almost consider them as positioning flights). Otherwise, the remainder serve the people that live in those places.

[@3rdalbum]

I also assumed that they were just charter flights. I used to conduct surveys with passengers at Perth Airport and I never saw families boarding those flights. I was also amazed that you can hire a car at Paraburdoo Airport and rent a donga, I assumed those things were strictly for the use of the mining companies.

[@CUSF69]

Grateful for your videos because every-so-often I end up in a place you have filmed and I feel like I have already been there before!

[@rhysypoo]

I live in Australia. I'm an expat. It's amazing how vast Australia is. I do hours and hours of driving and road trips and the amount of space just like up there at the pilbara where there's nothing for hours and hours and hours and hours and Lind driving and think how crammed some of the countries in Europe are and all that space out there here Australia.... It can be pretty scary when you're out there in a car in the middle of nowhere. Praying that your car's not going to break down or you hit a kangaroo cuz you're pretty much screwed unless you've got a satellite form cuz there's no phone reception

[@coover65]

I'm a paramedic and have spent time working in small rural towns. It's quite nerve-wracking knowing that in some spots, you're the only paramedic within a 200km radius. Too far for our ambulance rescue helicopters to fly to and assist. I used to get the one and only local police officer to drive and assist and being ex-police myself he'd get me to assist him when needed. The isolation can be quite scary.

[@3rdalbum]

You'd have to be crazy not to carry a satellite phone, or at least a CB radio.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@3rdalbum Both are pretty well obligatory. The sat phone for any communications further than a few miles from town and the CB set to let the 2 road trains know that you are buried in the red dust between them! All those wheels running up the back of your neck can really ruin your day. 😱😵‍💫😈

[@surf6009]

Thanks.

[@jamiedonohue4884]

Another excellent video Noel! Gotta love thos flies and the heat in the outback haha can't wait for the next one all the best to Rach and the munchkins!

[@kurohone]

Since you really seem to appreciate these kinds of towns and their stories... might I suggest Uranium City in Saskatchewan, Canada? Another ultra-remote fly-in community, in the boreal forest rather than the Outback, and the mines have been closed for decades now.

[@dennisrettke]

As a mine worker from Western Australia, I would absolutely love to visit the Canadian equivalents. Don't they also do FIFO out of cities like Calgary?

[@jonathankleinow2073]

@@dennisrettke I recommend the Alex Praglowski Aviation channel if you're curious about the airlines that serve the tiny communities in the far north of Canada. He's done several videos about the unique aircraft, like 737-200 Combis with gravel kits, Avro RJs, and even Hawker Siddeley HS 748s.

[@dennisrettke]

@@jonathankleinow2073 thanks! I'll check it out.

[@milohrnic2023]

​​@@dennisrettkethey most definitely do. Firebag is one of the work camp airports they flight to straight from Calgary. We have the same FIFO culture that you have in Australia.

[@gerrysagert5709]

Thanks for showing us the outback- There's probably dozens of places like this in North America as well- We have people in Kelowna and Penticton travel way up north often too. It's good to see some airports stay practical instead of air galleries , casinos and giant malls. A clean toilet, my baggage is easy to grab and a way to get transit is all most of us really need. Thanks from British Columbia Gerry

[@airplaneguy64]

What I appreciate about Noel is that he actually responds to comments, unlike some other flight reviewers(ehem Sam Chui)

[@shonaguthrie848]

I used to FIFO from Sydney to Karratha, Port Hedland and Barrow Island via Perth for 3 year and loved looking out the window at the amazing landscape out the windows.

[@rockstar6790]

I do appreciate that the miners' accommodation has air-conditioning in the rooms. At least there is comfort when you are doing long shifts of intensive labour.

[@ACDZ123]

You wouldn't do to well up there without A/C ..not sure how the old boys managed back in the day before it

[@PeterDorshorst]

In 1964 My dad was part of a team that built the first lot of singlemens quarters and admin buildings in Mount Tom Price. He and two or three others would drive from Adelaide to Tom Price spend three months there building quarters and then come home for two or three weeks. He did this for twelve months. 85% of the roads from port Augusta to Perth and Perth to Tom price was dirt and very rough. I have been to the Pilbara a few times and got some wonderful memories.

[@oscare.quiros6349]

That Fokker 100 reminds me of the good old BAC-1-eleven. Great plane.

[@janesynnot7446]

Thank you Noel. Being an Aussie I have particularly loved your Aussie videos. I like the videos where you visit out of the way places, but like any of them. As a child we used to travel from Canberra to Albury and then to Melbourne every holidays to stay with family (1970’s). I remember flying in the Foker Friendships, they were rather bumpy. Thank you again and keep up the great work.

[@noelphilips]

Glad you like them!

[@ArsenicApplejuice]

You’re not wrong Noel. Qantas have really given up on their domestic lounges. They’ve also made it easier to get in now. Not necessarily a problem, but in context it’s clear they’ve decided to further dilute the quality of their qantas clubs. The domestic business lounges are still passable.

[@straychev]

Hey, I have been watching your videos for quite some time now, and I can safely say this has been one of the most interesting videos you've made. Keep up the great work, Noel, flying airlines and visiting places most of us won't be able to see in our lifetimes.

[@Retiredtraveler1961]

That seating configuration reminds me of the old MD 80s. I’ve had the privilege of sitting where you are on an MD-80 and it’s absolutely no fun loud and a drowning headache noise all the way Chicago to Seattle, almost 4 hours. I think your videos go above and beyond offering insight to not just airlines and airplanes but town surrounding airports, including this one or the video you did about the flight to the most remote airport in Montana.

[@bigmuggs123]

Another fantastic video Noel you’re such a warm polite person. Can’t wait for the next one.

[@noelphilips]

Thank you kindly

[@downundarob]

One of Paraburdoo's famous citizens is a dog known as Red Dog

[@smilesmite6682]

Wasn’t red dog from Karratha?

[@TheoneandonlyEETFUK]

Clifford ??

[@downundarob]

@@smilesmite6682 Red Dog was believed to have been born in the town of Paraburdoo, Western Australia

[@Ls98040]

There's a statue of Red Dog in Dampier in the Pilbara. He roamed from there after his friend was killed in an accident, according to the movie, anyway.

[@smilesmite6682]

@@downundarob ah ok

[@thepublishinggame]

I think this is a brilliant return to form of the types of videos you used to do and why I subscribed to your channel. This video is the type of content nobody else really does. Less snark, great information and history and just a terrific experience all the way around. Keep it up!

[@noelphilips]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@granttaylor1441]

Noel, should try to fly Perth - Murrin Murrin , its a private Nickel cobalt mine and refinery, located northern goldfields Western Australia. owned by Glencore. well differnt from the p'doo flight. the boarding and decant totally different from the rest of the world.

[@wanderschlosser1857]

I doubt you can book a flight yourself to Murrin which is kind of a must for his blog. To Paraburdoo you can book private tickets because people actually settle there or at least close by in Tom Price.

[@mabamabam]

@@wanderschlosser1857 Not a chance for Murrin. But Laverton would be possible. And experience the joys of flying Cobham

[@Aussiepete1962]

Yes I remember doing that for many years in WA working out of a mine site in Meekatharra driving similar trucks as you saw as well as graders , bulldozers and excavators. We worked a 2 shift system of 13 hours each ( 1 hour overlap for shift change ) from 6am to 7pm and 6pm to 7am on a 7 day rotating roster for 6 weeks at a time . The only difference was that we were a drive in drive out site so 2 days of our rostered 1 week off were spent driving up and down to Meekatharra , a distance of some 800 km . The rooms we had for those 6 weeks were called “ Dongas “ and measured 6 foot by 10 foot overall with no bathroom or shower , the showers and toilets were a communal arrangement. Later they were changed for rooms similar to the one you had and of course fully self contained . The one thing that gets people working in such places in those conditions is money , most come up that way with a goal to say either pay / buy there house or car off , try to become more financially independent particularly for those wanting to retire early or something similar . Very few can make a carrier out of it as it can burn you out extraordinary fast , I’ve seen some last only days and others go on for a decade or more . It takes a special type of person to do that job , believe me I know I worked in that industry on and off for 20 years . Great to see you go up that way , not everyone has seen that way of life .

[@glennschlorf1285]

Noel.... nice to see you featuring the Working Mans flight...I am trying to remember if I have flown on a fokker

[@wafflesnfalafel1]

super cool vid, thank you sir. Love the rental "car", nice rig. Looks like a neat little community, has a library, an IGA grocery, even a golf course. Long way from the closest Starbucks though.

[@johnkelly3886]

My guess is that they are mining iron ore. The deposits are due to the low oxygen environment, prior to the great oxygenation 'event'. The geology is billions of years old. Worth a mention.

[@minimark123]

Hi Noel I am enjoying your more recent videos which are branching out into a travel blog/local documentary type deal on these sorts of places I would have never heard about otherwise.

[@aaronevans8701]

Aussie here. Firstly, it's FI as in eye. Second, it's a ute not a pickup truck. Third, qantarse can go and get farked- they're horrible, price gouging, and the current management have diluted an iconic Australian brand with such important history. But also love seeing you come to Australia

[@elwoodroadsmusic9639]

Fun fact, those huge dump trucks actually used to be bigger in the 80s. They were dual rear axles so that the trays were nearly twice as long. I remember seeing them in action in Newman (Mt whaleback mine) as a kid. I guess transportation and maintenance brought those behemoths to an end.

[@martindehavilland-fox3175]

I worked on the F100 for a good few years. Unusual to see a take off with flaps. It was normally a clean wing. There was only ABZ that we had a flapped departure.

[@jblyon2]

Likely due to the hot temps needing the extra lift.

[@ben0nib0y]

Loved this video Noel - one of your best. I know that airport and part of the world very well, and you're right - it's a beautiful and special place. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@lachlankerr7118]

The reason the food is very basic is because you are in the Qantas Club. If you’re flying business class or are gold/emerald member you get access to the business lounge with hot buffet and a more exclusive experience.

[@britannia079]

I've watched your videos since back in the days you didn't speak and recorded the entire flight (Gap in the market for that these days 😂) and love them as much now as back then. The bit you talked about looking at things as if there is something there even when people say there isnt, never stop doing that Noel, wish more looked at the world through eyes like yours

[@AledPritchard]

“These little Fokkers are still going” 😂😂😂

[@JoeCPT78]

6:31 Noel, I have never seen you so happy. It almost brought a tear to my eye.

[@catherinegowan1362]

FIFO accomodation called Donga

[@GerHoelk]

Hi mate, absolutely looove your work. I'm doing a lot of flying around Australia incl. this area and it is awesome to see it from your angle. Great editing and I agree with previous comments: keep including the small side ( road) trips to places like these as they give you interesting fact. Stay safe and I'm looking fwd to the next vid.

[@ShelterCats]

Yay another video from my bucket list country. What amazing looking weather too. Thanks for bringing us on this epic journey.

[@abshorts5183]

My home country😊

[@texifyaviationyt]

@@abshorts5183 My home city

[@abshorts5183]

I subbed to ur channel

[@bluewinkle123]

Thank you Noel for another wonderful video. It reminded me of last year when I traveled to Perth from SoCal and traveled all around the southern coast down to Albany and back to Perth following the southern coast of Australia. It was an amazing trip. Definitely a forgotten place too.

[@robdotcom71]

I STILL cannot get over how you pronounced Nullarbor last video.... Shocking. lol

[@ArsenicApplejuice]

He pronounced it like two Latin words Null Arbor “no trees”. Maybe he did Latin at school like a lot of brits. Made me think of that Monty python skit

[@robdotcom71]

FIFO is usually 6 weeks on 6 weeks off.

[@wanderschlosser1857]

​@@robdotcom71No it's not, at least not in Australia. It varies but for mine it is often 8 days on /6 days off. But you also find 2 weeks on / 2 weeks off and several variations around such patterns. I never heard something more than 3 weeks intervals. Even during the pandemic it might have been 4 weeks to reduce exposure by travel. But 6 weeks, it's ridiculous.

[@mabamabam]

@@robdotcom71 usually 8 days on 6 days off. But there are lots that do 4 days on and 3 off, or 2 weeks on and 1 week off. There are very very few who do 6 weeks on.

[@shonaguthrie848]

@@robdotcom71I worked 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off, and also 26 days on, 9 days off.

[@tawAAkul]

Found this video fascinating! Nice one Noel. Love these types of videos going into places no one really knows about

[@noelphilips]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jdkingzyke]

Oh he said Fokker 100! I thought it was the F bomb!😂

[@Mullins117]

Awesome thanks for coming to my hometown of Perth!! Also i visited Tom Price recently which is near Para!

[@hergi-tp9ve]

Noel was upset there was no sausages in the lounge

[@ashallen4real]

Great review. Many FIFO workers don't even live in Perth. Many fly in from NZ, many live in Indonesia/Thailand and fly in fly out. Very well paid but deserved.

[@paulbennett8516]

Excellent video as usual Noel great having a ride on a Fokker 100 a rare beast theses days

[@PlanesTrainsEverything]

Paraburdoo - that brings back memories. Back in my corporate travel days I worked with Japanese clients, and they were always heading across to those WA mining communities. Great video.

[@michaelhayden725]

Back in 1971 or 72 as a Flight Service Officer, Port Hedland I worked the first aircraft to depart this aerodrome. It was Gulfstream GII owned by Rio Tinto. The initial flight was PBO to Melbourne/Essendon a four hour + flight. Cheers

[@simiot1]

From the air the patterns in the outback are like a painting. Are you doing PER-LHR next? Great video!

[@tomm8759]

Noel you do such a great job witb your videos, learn so much from you and its by watching your videos we get to travel without leaving the comfort of our sofa. Thank you for the content you bring.

[@noelphilips]

Glad you like them!