12 Jan 2015

Tonga aviation standards lacking

12:42 pm on 12 January 2015

A review by the Pacific Aviation Safety Office has found that Civil Aviation standards in Tonga are not at the international level required.

The Chief Executive of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ringo Fa'oliu, says the government is now looking at the structure of the local airline, Real Tonga, and its staff's experience.

He told Radio Tonga greater training is needed for Real Tonga staff and that pilots may need to be sent to do simulator training.

But the general manager of Real Tonga Airlines, Tevita Palu, says the finding was not based on his company, but on the Civil Aviation Department.