Offiical flight, Tonga's MA60 takes off from Fua'amotu Domestic Airport. 6 July 2013.

The New Zealand government has suspended its promised multi-million dollar aid to develop tourism in Tonga, over safety concerns around the new Chinese-made MA60 aircraft that the Tonga government plans to use for the domestic inter-island service.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully said yesterday there were ongoing problems with certification of the plane.

“The New Zealand government has an uncompromising view to safety in Pacific aviation. There are real concerns about the plane that has been imported in the last few days and until the safety certification is undertaken to a high standard we have it [NZ tourism aid] on hold, it’s as simple as that,” he said in a statement to TVNZ One News.

His comments follow safety concerns expressed by aviation commentator Peter Clark last week over the airworthiness and safety questions, given the spate of recent landing incidents with the aircraft in Indonesia and Burma. While US Federal Aviation Administration and UK aviation authorities had reportedly declined to certify the MA60, but Tonga’s Prime Minister Lord Tu‘ivakano had signed and awarded a type certificate for the plane at a ceremony held in Tonga on February 20.

The 52-seat twin-engined turboprop is to be leased by the Tongan Government to local carrier Real Tonga, owned by Palu Aviation Services, for planned use on Tongan inter-island services.

“I am very worried over the track record of this aircraft type,” said Clark.

Damaging

But Tonga's Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Labour in a statement yesterday, June 8, called the criticism "misleading…and damaging to Tonga's tourism industry."

"Operations in those countries have nothing to do with Civil Aviation policy and regulations in Tonga, which are based on International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations applied in New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and other countries in the region."

The ministry stated that the aircraft that had been gifted to Tonga by the Chinese Government was not yet flying in Tonga, "and will not be allowed to fly in Tonga until it fully complies with international aviation standards, including safety requirements established by the ICAO."

They added that General Manager for Tonga’s domestic airline, Real Tonga, Tevita Palu, had not yet signed a deed of lease for the M60 aircraft, which would be required under Tonga’s aviation regulations "to go through the necessary civil aviation checks before the aircraft is allowed to fly in Tonga."

New Zealand

But Hon. McCully said yesterday that New Zealand had offered $10.5 million dollars over three years as part of the aid commitment to Tonga, "and we have an uncompromising view on safety."

"There are reasons why the experts have drawn these concerns to our attention, and as a result of those reports we have said we want to take a particular interest in the certification in this plane. There has been some debate around how it will be certified … and how the safety issues will be resolved …and these are all issues that need to be sorted out before we allow New Zealand taxpayers money to be employed in supporting tourism infrastructure in Tonga. Part of that support will involve promoting the use of this asset amongst members of the New Zealand public."

"…We obviously can’t proceed with doubt about those things, we want to see some certainty, especially certainty over safety issues. We have had in recent times the Princess Ashika affair in Tonga, and I am pleased to see they are making some progress on maritime safety, but obviously we are taking a very cautious and prudent view on aviation safety as well."

On the safety certification issue McCully said, "That is a matter for the experts this is not an area where politicians should be dictating the play, it's simply our role to ensure that high standards are adopted as far as safety issues are concerned in the aviation sector and that’s what we are doing."

Tonga government

Meanwhile, Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, who was instrumental in securing the gift of the plane from the People's Republic of China, said at the handover ceremony on Saturday July 6, "It is sad that the United States even New Zealand have not accepted this aircraft."

He told Matangi Tonga Online that the New Zealand aid for Tonga tourism was suspended, under a three year programme that had promised at least $3 million a year, and that he was disappointed with the New Zealand position.

"The plane is safe," he said. "Tonga is a sovereign nation and we hope that New Zealand will keep its promise."

Public

Meanwhile, Vava'u tourism operators and members of the public continue to express concern over the poor reputation of the Chinese made MA60 aircraft and its recent safety scares.

"Any incident will destroy Tonga's fragile tourist industry as confidence will be lost and no one will be there to step in," said Sione Taufa. "There are so many issues left unclear and undeclared, so much at stake for an economy just picking up."