Seven trainees join Tonga’s first aviation school [1]
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 - 19:32. Updated on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 - 19:48.
The Kingdom Flight Training, Tonga’s first Aviation School was launched on Tuesday, 17 March at the Real Tongan Airline depot at Fua’amotu Airport.
Seven Tongan students, all young men, have been enrolled and they will train under a New Zealand trainer, Michael Bach
Tevita Palu the Chief Executive Officer CEO of the Real Tongan Airline, told the launch that it was because of a shortage of human resources to operate an airline service, “that two years ago, we put together a business plan to establish a facility for the training of pilots, flight attendants, engineering and others.”
Tevita said that Palu Aviation began operation in Tonga in 2003, but in 2013 they moved on from doing aviation repair work to running a domestic airline, the Real Tonga Airline.
The Kingdom Flight Training classroom courses will be held at the Real Tonga Airline facility at the airport and they will specialise in providing fixed wing pilot training for both domestic and international students.
Real Tongan Airlines has also made available a training aircraft, a Cessna 172.
Some components of the syllabus will require travelling to New Zealand due to the requirements for cross country and mountain flying.
Entry Requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- 7th Form passes in English, Maths and Physics.
- If English is a second language, applicants will need minimum IELTS Band of 6.0 or equivalent.
- Valid passport.
- Declared a fit and proper person status by providing evidence of criminal convictions and traffic infringement reports.
- Demonstrate ability to complete the entire course (academic and work experience records).
The available courses at this stage are: Private Pilot Licence, Commercial Pilot Licence and Single Engine Instrument Rating. All students will initially study the theory and practical requirements.
Kingdom Flight Training provides training towards New Zealand Licences. New Zealand Licences can be converted to a Tongan licence when the time is right.
New Zealand is a signatory to the International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO and an ICAO Pilot Licence is recognised worldwide.
Guest of Honour at the occasion was the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu’I’onetoa.
Maikolo Fa’asolo, the Flight Operating Manager for the Real Tonga Airlines expressed his sincere thanks for his support for the Real Tonga Kingdom Flight Training project, saying, “it all hjappened because of the Prime Minister’s support, to move the country forward.”