Tonga Government should ease NZ concerns over safety Featured
Tevita Palu, CEO Real Tonga
12 August, 2016. The Tongan government said its newly certified MA60 aircraft was safe despite regional authorities not being involved in its certification.
The MA60 is due to be in operation this month after being grounded for over a year. The aircraft was gifted by China in 2013, flew domestically in August of that year before the New Zealand government objected.
The MA-60, which was gifted to Tonga by the Chinese Government, has been plagued with issues.
They called for the MA60 to be certified by an international recognised certification authority, suspending some aid and issuing a travel advisory for Tonga over safety concerns.
The acting CEO of Tonga's Ministry of Infrastructure, Kisione Taufa, said the MA60 had now been certified after examinations by Chinese inspectors.
He said New Zealand and the Pacific Aviation Safety Office were not a part of the certification process. But Mr Taufa says the aircraft is safe.
"We believe so but at the same time, just to make it clear for the public, it is just like an annual examination for a car. We do it once and at the same time the maintenance and operation wiill be a job for the operator but if there is an issue we step in and check whether it's OK and safe for the public."
Meanwhile CEO of Real Tonga airline, Tevita Palu, said the government should communicate with New Zealand to ease any concerns they might have over domestic air safety.
Mr Palu said Tonga's civil aviation authority has certified the MA-60 and recently implemented changes to Tonga's Civil Aviation act to align standards with New Zealand's.
He said he hoped the country could soften its stance. "The Government of Tonga should do what they are supposed to do and clarify these issues, if they have any issues or clarify any concerns.
I think that's a role that government should confirm what's been done but from the airline's point of view, we go through the process as required," said Tevita Palu.
-RNZI
16 comments
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'Oku mahino pe ia he koe pisinisi 'oku taumu'a ke ma'u ha tupu pea malo mo e tu'u mai 'a Tevita Palu he taimi faingata'a ko'eni he 'oku mahino koe fa'ahinga pisinisi 'eni 'oku fiema'u e pa'anga lahi kiai. Na'e talu hono 'omai e MA60 neongo 'oku mahino pe ia koe vakapuna 'oku lelei ne te'eki tu'o taha ke holo 'a e fea ki he tu'unga na'e talanga'i 'aki he falealea. 'Oku totonu ke 'oange 'ehe Pule'anga ha tokoni fakapa'angakia Tevita Palu ke tokoni ki he folau ki Tokelau mama'o hange koe tokoni ki he Vakatahi he koe malo 'ene loto lahi. 'Oku 'i ai e ongoongo 'oku vave 'a e tu'u e kautaha vakapuna 'e taha pea kana fe'auhi 'oku 'iai e tui 'e holo e totongi pea ka holo mahalo ko'ena suffer loua. Malo e ngaue lahi Tevita Palu.
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Ai masii Tevita Palu e fare ke ma'ama'a kae tuku e hange oku ke meimei ta'e'ofa. Na ke kanititeiti nake tala ko hoo taumua ngaue ke langilangiia a Sihova i Tongatapu 3. Ta koe foi kaveinga pe ia kapau nake lava ki Fale Alea. Ku kaveinga fefee leva e taimi ni ia？Ai ai e mamafa a e fea moe kovi a e sevesi. Ka puna e vaka koena o liliu e fare mo sai e sevesi pea teu toki tui ka koe.
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Sai ia ke fai mo puna e vaka na'a ma'ama'a ai e fea ki motu. 'Oku fihia pe foki 'a e kau pisinisi ia hange ko Ti Palu koe politiki 'a e PUle'anga ka kuo mahino ne puna e vaka he ta'u 'e 2 pea na'e mahino 'ene lelei.
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Tevita Palu na'aku fanongo tonu i hoo tala e kovi oe MA60 kuo ke lea mai eni he letio koe vakalelei. Hangehange tama oku ke ngutungutuuaa Faifekau.
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Oku ou tui e fiema'u ange ae Foreign Affairs a NZ kenau concern kihe fo'i kautaha Maori Trust koeni nenau omi o fakatau e Tonga Forests. Tuku e vakapuna ia heikai tenau lavai enautolu a Siaina.
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Heikai pe ke toe osi e leanoa ia 'a nuusila, fekau atu kenau totongi mai ha kakai makehe ke fai e sivi, ko e kovaho mai pea ikai kenau omai aa enautolu ha vaka kapau oku nau concern mai. Tevita Palu oku fakavalevale ho'o 'ai 'e koe ki he Pule'anga kenau talanoa ki he Pule'anga NZ he koe toe takai ua atu ia hono tafulu'i 'e Akilisi a John Key katau mate he ma hhhhhh