The Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji has clarified that there are regulations in place to determine the go ahead for a flight based on first and last light.

In a submission before the Public Accounts Committee on their audited reports from 2016 – 2017, Opposition PAC member Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu questioned Fiji’s air safety records.

In particular, he queried the recent helicopter crash in which three people died.

CAAF Controller Air Safety Captain George Tudreu while cautioning that an investigation was underway nonetheless noted that the onus is on operators.

“In this particular case, you are correct, there are provisions on last light, first light operations. At the end of the day, the responsibility lies with the operator who has been certified and licensed to compile with the laws. If they don’t, that’s where we step in.”

Captain Tudreu also emphasized that CAAF ensured that enforcement measures are in place in addition to ensuring awareness and education is rolled out among the relevant stakeholders.