helicopter services

The Acting CEO of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Pesalili Tu'iano confirmed this to Radio Tonga News today.

The helicopter is owned by Australian pilot, Rodger McCutcheon who plans to start a rescue operation service in the island kingdom.

Tu’iano said the civil aviation department has had talks with the Australian pilot regarding the operations of the helicopter. He couldn’t confirm if the helicopter will be returned to Australia or given to Samoa

Rodger McCutcheon, the man who has been working tirelessly during the past two years to establish a helicopter service for Tonga, told Matangi Tonga a 7-seater Eurocopter AS350 helicopter is expected to arrive by ship in Nuku’alofa on 31 January.

The AS350 helicopter will be the first of two helicopters to service Tonga.

“The first helicopter will be based in Tongatapu close to the CBD. The second helicopter will be based in Vava’u.