Page 4 - IB March 2018 Edition

OUR WORD

Managing Director / Publisher
Samisoni Pareti
Group Editor-in-Chief
Samisoni Pareti
by Samisoni Pareti

Staff Writer Saluting our brave aviators
Nanise Volau
Design Consultant
Dick Lee Fiji’s small knit aviation community was being contained in a small metal machine
Main Correspondents engulfed in grief and lots of sadness early flying hundreds of metres up in the sky.
Fiji Anish Chand in the month when a trainee pilot and her The other incident in 2010 involved an-
Australia Nic Maclellan instructor died in a plane crash in Fiji’s other small plane though a bit bigger than a
north. Just like the death of pilot David Tong
Cook Islands Helen Greig Cessna aircraft. It was a Twin Otter belong-
who in January lost his life when his small
Kiribati Taberannang Korauaba ing to Pacific Sun, forerunner of what’s Fiji
plane crash in rugged mountainous terrain
French Polynesia Nic Maclellan in Papua New Guinea, rescue arrived too Link today. About five minutes away from
New Caledonia Nic Maclellan late for young Merelesita Lutu and flying landing at Nadi Airport, the plane flew
New Zealand Jason Brown instructor Iliesa Tawalo. through dark, ominous black cloud forma-
tions. The plane was struck by lightning
Niue Naea Michael Jackson
As a New Zealand expert arrives to begin seconds later and it dropped.
Papua New Guinea Sam Vulum an investigation into the tragedy, I am re-
Patrick Matbob minded of two equally harrowing episodes Fortunately for the passengers, the crew
Samoa Taina Kami-Enoka involving domestic aviation. The first was led by a woman captain from Tonga recov-
ered from the shock, stabilised the plane
Solomon Islands Priestly Habru taking one of the most terrifying plane rides
of my entire life from the capital Suva in and with its instruments knocked out by
Tonga Iliesa Tora lightning, flew the aircraft out towards the
a small plane in 2016 bound for a remote
Vanuatu Bob Makin sea off the city of Lautoka. Using their own
island in Fiji’s eastern region as part of a
documentary I was producing for the US visions, they safely landed the plane some
Islands Business is published monthly by Embassy. Nothing could be seen out of the 10 to 20 minutes later at Nadi. This incident
Front Page Limited plane’s windows during the entire 60 minute forced the airline to ensure that all its planes
Editorial & Advertising Offices flight and for the whole time, both pilots had are fitted with weather radar equipment.
117 Amy Street,
PO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands. their hands firmly on the plane equipment. It’s a real tragedy when lives of our avia-
Tel: +679 330 3108
They say the weather on that day was tors are lost but such incidents will continue
Emails somewhat similar to the day the small to be isolated and far between it is hoped,
Editorial: editor@islandsbusiness.com Cessna plane of which Lutu and Tawalo and that it ought not take away the respect
Subscriptions: subs@islandsbusiness.com were in went down. The rain was relentless and admiration we have for these bunch of
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and thunderstorms could be heard. The kind brave professionals who skilfully deliver us
of weather that should see one holed up in to our destinations safe and sound day in
Printing:
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