Tongan aviation services expand [1]
Monday, September 22, 2008 - 11:06. Updated on Thursday, September 11, 2014 - 15:47.
Palu Aviation Services opened a new shed at the Fua'amotu International Airport, marking the fast-growing company's sixth birthday on September 17.
PAS is currently maintaining all Tongan registered aircraft and provides aircraft maintenance to all scheduled international air carriers arriving at Fua'amotu International Airport, including Air New Zealand, Pacific Blue and Air Pacific.
At the opening of the expanded facility on Wednesday Tevita Palu the CEO of Palu Aviation Service also presented certificates of appreciation to 12 full time staff.
"Over the past six years, I have been fortunate to have staff grow with me and I want to recognize the work they put in and thank them for their commitment," said Tevita.
Palu Aviation Services PAS is the success story of a Tongan company that started small but with careful planning and hard work, has flourished during the past six years.
Hon. Paul Karalus, the Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation told the gathering how Tevita was among four Tongans who were selected and sent to New Zealand to study aircraft engineering. When Tevita returned he started PAS and recruited two of his outstanding engineers from the Fokololo 'o e Hau Tonga Institute of Science and Technology. They worked with PAS at their base at the Fua'amotu International Airport before going to New Zealand for further training with Air New Zealand. He said that Paula Tu'ifua and 'Aisake Manu were now qualified engineers, and three other staff members were currently trainees in engineering.
Last year PAS opened a fully operational branch to service Air New Zealand at Faleolo Airport in Samoa.