"Standards in place to protect lives"

Fiji's national aviation regulator says its foremost responsibility is to en­sure that the aviation system oper­ates at the highest standards of safety, integrity, and compliance.

Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAF) chief executive Theresa Levestam said the standards were in place to protect lives, support livelihoods, and maintain public confidence in the aviation sector.

Responding to Pacific Flying School's con­cerns over a host of challenges that impacted 30 trainee pilots, Ms Levestam said the regula­tory processes involved had wide-reaching im­pacts, particularly in areas of aviation training where student progression and career development were involved.

"CAAF takes these matters seriously and re­mains committed to fair, transparent, and con­sistent oversight," she said.

"Co-ordination with the operator concerned has been ongoing, and we have made every ef­fort to assist and facilitate solutions that up­hold both safety and regulatory integrity.

"Our approach is guided by international best practices and a deep commitment to en­suring that Fiji's aviation sector continues to grow in a safe and sustainable manner."

CAAF is expected to issue a public statement to clarify its position.

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