Fiji Link needs approval to land at night in Labasa - Bale

Fiji Link’s General Manager, Peter Bale says they are conducting a series of thorough risk and safety assessments regarding the use of their ATR aircraft for night operations into Labasa.

Bale says they are liaising with the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji on the matter and Fiji Link would require CAAF approval to land at night in Labasa, and this approval has not been granted, pending completion of the required safety assessments.

Bale adds that Fiji Link may commission an external aviation safety expert to offer an independent evaluation on Labasa night operations.

His comments come after Fiji Airports confirmed yesterday that night landing facility has been installed at Labasa Airport and the airport is now ready for night flights.

General Manager Operations, Isei Tudreu says they are now waiting for Fiji Airways to come to them and say that they are ready to provide night flights to the north.

While making submissions to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Tudreu had highlighted that Fiji Airways has challenges with regards to the training of their crew and also the aircraft type that they want to launch for the night flights.