Safety and safety are two or more different things around the world - Tonga is totally out of step - Curt Lewis

 

Tonga set to resume flying Chinese aircraft grounded over safety concerns

Tonga is ignoring pressure from New Zealand to get internationally recognised certification for its grounded MA60 aircraft and will resume flying it this week.

The plane, gifted to Tonga by the Chinese government, has been grounded for over a year after New Zealand suspended aid to the Kingdom over safety concerns.

The MA60 aircraft type has been involved in a number of crashes and is not certified for use in the USA or European Union.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully says he understands the Tonga Civil Aviation Division has issued an Air Operator Certificate for the plane without involving the Pacific Aviation Safety Office or New Zealand authorities.

He says he has continued to reinforce New Zealand's aviation safety standards with the Tongan Government and offer help with this.
"However we also accept that Tonga is a sovereign nation and entitled to make its own decisions in such matters," he said.

Suspension of New Zealand aid into Tonga's tourism sector is no longer an issue as funding has been redirected into other areas.
ONE News understands the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may update its travel advisory on Tonga given this latest development.