Tongan aircraft engineer wins student awards [1]
Tuesday, January 16, 2007 - 15:58. Updated on Monday, May 19, 2014 - 19:31.
Two locally recruited engineering student employed by the Palu Aviation Services in Tonga have excelled in aircraft engineering after undergoing further training in New Zealand.
'Aisake Manu and Paula Taufa were presented with their Air New Zealand Engineering Certificates, by Tonga's Minister of Transport, Hon. Paul Karalus on January 13, at a special function that also celebrated the fourth birthday of PAS.
Tevita Palu, the General Manager of PAS said he was very proud of the achievement of his two employees, whom he had recruited from the Fokololo 'o e Hau Tonga Institute of Science and Technology. After working with PAS at their base at the Fua'amotu International Airport they went to New Zealand for further training with Air New Zealand.
" 'Aisake was outstanding, he was awarded the Leonard Isitt Trophy Best Pacific Rim Student Award, the Aviation Industry Association (AIA) Trophy, and the Best in Class award from Air New Zealand."
Tevita said that 'Aisake would continue working with Air New Zealand this year to complete his licence requirements on the Boeing 737 aircraft.
Meanwhile, this week, Air Pacific will award Tevita with his ATR42 Approval, which will enable PAS to certify the ATR42 type of aircraft in Tonga.
The year 2006 was a successful year for PAS. It was re-certified by the Ministry of Civil Aviation as a Part 145 Maintenance Organisation, the only such company in Tonga.
PAS is100% Tongan-owned and Tevita said it is committed to localizing its staff, training and retaining local engineers in Tonga.
PAS was established in 2003 and is currently maintaining all Tongan registered aircraft. It also provides aircraft maintenance to all scheduled international Air Carriers arriving at Fua'amotu International, Air New Zealand, Pacific Blue and Air Pacific.