1. Could you begin by introducing the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji and its role?
The Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji was established by an Act of Parliament in 1979. Since then, it has grown from a very small organization serving a small industry into what it is today, with over 80 personnel responsible for the safety and security oversight of all civil aviation operations in Fiji.
Our work spans the full range of civil aviation oversight. We license aviation personnel, including pilots, air traffic controllers and engineers, and we regulate aviation security and facilitation. We are also responsible for the safety oversight of aerodromes and air navigation services, as well as flight operations and airworthiness.
2. As Fiji's aviation regulator, how does CAAF ensure the safety, security and oversight of the country's aviation sector, and why is that so important to the nation?
Regulating civil aviation is extremely important because it only takes a single mishap or accident to negatively affect public confidence in air travel. We do this through certification, licensing, regular surveillance and audits of operators and service providers, all aligned with ICAO standards.
Air transport is key enabler for Fiji. Beyond supporting tourism, which contributes to around 40% of the nation's GDP, it underpins trade, business and essential services across our country.
Aviation is a primary gateway to and from Fiji. More than 90% of visitors entering Fiji do so by air. It connects people and families, both within Fiji and abroad, and links our smaller islands with one another and with the wider Pacific.
3. Aviation is a lifeline for an island nation and a cornerstone of Fiji's connectivity. How does a strong, well-regulated aviation sector underpin tourism, trade and broader economic development?
It comes down to confidence and trust in the air transportation system.
That confidence comes from having sound civil aviation infrastructure, and safety and security oversight that ensures all air operations meet the required standards, whether they are passenger services, private aviation, adventure tourism or other activities.
Our role is to ensure that standards are in place and that operators comply with rules and regulations that are recognized internationally.
Someone coming to Fiji should know that when they board an aeroplane or helicopter to travel to a private island or resort, or take part in a sightseeing flight or parachute jump, the operation meets standards that are equal to or better than those set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
That same confidence supports the movement of high-value exports, business travel and investment into Fiji.
4. How does CAAF maintain international standards and work with global bodies to ensure Fiji's aviation sector remains safe, credible and trusted by airlines and travelers?
It is a constant process because aviation is always evolving. Every time we feel we are on par with the rest of the world, a new safety, security or facilitation requirement emerges and we must realign and provide guidance.
To regulate effectively, our personnel need to be competent. We recruit people with industry experience, then train them and support their continuous professional development.
Capacity building is fundamental to effective aviation oversight.
We work closely with ICAO and participate in international bodies and working groups across the Asia-Pacific region, which helps us anticipate changes and implement them. Fiji currently chairs the Asia-Pacific Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Regional Group (APANPIRG).
Internally, one of our challenges is ensuring that requirements are interpreted consistently. We are bringing our people together so that we are all on the same page and providing consistent guidance.
We are also changing our approach to oversight. Rather than being a regulator that comes in with a stick, we are working to educate first, through advisories and guidance materials that help industry understand what is expected.
Educate, persuade and then regulate.
When operators understand what is required, education itself becomes persuasion. By the time regulation is needed, they should already be complying.
5. CAAF is also undertaking regulatory reform. What changes are being introduced?
We are currently undertaking significant reform at the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji.
The Authority was established under legislation in 1979, developed with the help of UK experts who were in Fiji at the time, and our primary legislation has not been substantially reviewed since then. Our regulations date from 1981, so parts of our legislative framework are now almost 50 years old.
Aviation has evolved, but our legislation has been slow to keep pace.
We are reviewing the primary legislation, which we hope to have ready for Parliament this year, along with the regulations and technical rules that will sit beneath it.
At the same time, we are conscious of the challenges operators face. We are introducing smaller changes to make processes easier, including new systems and greater automation.
We aim to complete these reforms within the next two years.
We are still in the early stages, but we are moving slowly and surely.
6. Fiji positions itself as an aviation hub for the Pacific. What competitive advantages does the country offer, and what improvements are still needed to strengthen its role as a regional gateway?
Fiji's first advantage is its geographical position. We are centrally located, at the confluence of many air traffic service routes in our region. Flights between the United States and Australia or New Zealand, for example, will generally enter or overfly Fiji’s airspace.
We also have infrastructure capable of supporting large aircraft. Large jets bring travellers into Fiji, and airlines such as Fiji Airways then connect them to smaller Pacific islands served by smaller aircraft.
We are fortunate in both our location and the infrastructure that has developed here.
Airspace management is another important issue. Fiji needs to keep pace with surrounding airspaces, including those of the United States, Australia and New Zealand and our communication, navigation and surveillance capabilities must evolve with international requirements.
Airport capacity is also a consideration. Nadi Airport can become congested, and Fiji Airports has a master plan that is continually refined to accommodate increasing passenger numbers.
If Fiji wants to continue to increase visitor numbers beyond one million per year, the airport terminal and the wider transport infrastructure must be able to support that growth.
It requires a whole-of-government approach. Everyone needs to work together and share the same vision.
7. How does CAAF support the growth of routes and services linking Fiji with regional Pacific neighbors and major international markets?
Whenever there is a new route or destination, CAAF is normally advised in advance, as airlines require approval for certain aspects of their operations.
Provided we receive adequate notice, our inspectors are available to carry out the necessary approvals and checks in time for those flights to operate.
Air services agreements are negotiated by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, while CAAF supports those agreements by issuing foreign operator approvals to airlines seeking to operate into Fiji.
Being facilitative is an important part of our role. We support new operations while providing guidance wherever compliance issues arise.
8. How does CAAF support training, capability building and the development of local aviation talent in Fiji?
There is a shortage of skilled aviation professionals not only in Fiji but around the world. This is recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization through its Next Generation of Aviation Professionals initiative.
One of Fiji's challenges is retaining licensed professionals as remuneration elsewhere can draw people away. We can find ourselves in a cycle of training people to the required level, only to see them leave.
However, we must keep training our people, even if some eventually leave, because having competent people in the system matters more.
All aviation training organisations in Fiji must be certified. CAAF’s inspectors certify these organisations and conduct continuous surveillance to ensure compliance. This covers pilot training, aircraft engineering at Fiji National University and air traffic control training through Fiji Airports.
We are also working to make aviation careers more visible to young people. In August, we partnered with Fiji National University to host our inaugural Aviation Open Day, “Beyond the Skies”, attended by more than 700 students.
Many were unaware of the range of careers in aviation, including security, catering and other roles beyond pilots, air traffic controllers, flight attendants and aircraft engineers.
Our aim was to spark an interest in aviation. If even just 10 or 15 of those students go on to pursue aviation at tertiary level, then the objective of the event would have been achieved.
We are also using social media and our wider communications to make aviation careers more attractive and accessible to younger generations.
9. Technology is transforming aviation regulation and operations worldwide. How is CAAF using technology, data and modern systems to enhance safety and efficiency?
Data is extremely important from a regulatory perspective.
As part of our reform programme, we have identified areas where processes are slow or where bottlenecks exist, and technology is one of the ways we are addressing them.
We are introducing a safety and security oversight management system. Until now, much of our work has been manual. Inspectors would carry out an inspection, write everything down, return to the office, enter it into the system and then produce reports.
Under the new system, inspectors will use tablets in the field, and information will be updated automatically. This removes a step and gives inspectors more time for surveillance.
We are also improving how we use data. Previously, information was collected manually and entered into spreadsheets, which made it difficult to identify emerging risks. Now, data will help us see where the highest risks are and where additional surveillance is needed.
This is moving us towards a risk-based and performance-based approach to oversight.
Technology is also important for drones. The number of recreational and commercial drones in Fiji has grown significantly in recent years. We are working towards automating drone registration and, eventually, an application that will allow people to register drones from their mobile phones.
As more of our systems become digital, cybersecurity becomes increasingly important.
Every advance brings new risks.
We hold confidential operator data that must be protected, so our information and communications technology team has expanded to include cybersecurity responsibilities.
10. How is CAAF supporting the aviation industry's response to environmental challenges and the transition towards more sustainable aviation?
One area is solar energy.
Fiji Airports is developing solar infrastructure in the vicinity of the airport, and CAAF has developed guidance on solar installations near airports, given risks such as glare that could affect pilots. This ensures solar installations can be introduced safely.
Another area is sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF. Fiji Airways has previously operated flights using SAF, and CAAF’s role includes providing approvals and guidance on its safe use and the appropriate fuel blend.
The challenge is that SAF remains expensive because there are relatively few producers. We have therefore suggested that an international organisation study the Pacific ‘as a region’ to determine whether there is sufficient feedstock to support SAF production. Rather than looking at individual islands separately, a regional approach could identify enough feedstock across the Pacific as a whole.
Fiji is also implementing its State Action Plan for the reduction of CO₂ emissions from aviation. This includes air traffic management procedures such as continuous descent and continuous climb operations, which can reduce unnecessary fuel burn.
11. What opportunities do you see for strengthening safe and reliable air links between Fiji and the United States, particularly the West Coast and California?
The Los Angeles and San Francisco routes are extremely important.
Maintaining these links to California matters not only for people travelling between Fiji and the United States, but also because Fiji serves as a transit point for travellers continuing to other parts of the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand.
A significant proportion of passengers between North America and Fiji are transiting to other destinations.
From a regulatory perspective, CAAF supports the airline and ensures it can continue to serve these routes.
Security is also a major consideration. Flights to the United States must meet specific requirements, including those of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
CAAF facilitates the relevant inspections and ensures that our certification and surveillance activities align with those requirements.
The TSA has also provided significant capacity-building support. TSA experts regularly come to Fiji to conduct training, and CAAF personnel also travel to the United States for training.
The objective is to ensure that Fiji remains aligned with TSA requirements, so that flights departing Fiji continue to be accepted into the United States.
12. Looking ahead, what is your vision for Fiji's aviation sector over the next five to ten years?
With the reforms under way, we expect to see faster turnaround times from the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji within the next five years.
We also expect greater ease of doing business with CAAF, better coordination, and stronger relationships with the operators flying into and out of Fiji.
There is a great deal of reform taking place, and I am confident it will leave us better placed to support the changes the industry will bring over the coming years.
Over the next decade, I see Fiji strengthening its role as the Pacific’s aviation hub, with a skilled local workforce, modern infrastructure and a regulatory system that is trusted internationally.
13. Finally, what message would you like to share with Los Angeles Times readers about Fiji's aviation industry and its importance to the country's future?
Civil aviation in Fiji is safe and secure.
You can travel to our country with confidence.
There is a great deal of work under way to modernise the sector, and CAAF is focused on supporting the changes that will shape Fiji’s aviation landscape in the years ahead.
Aviation connects Fiji to the world, and a safe, well-regulated sector is central to our nation’s future. We look forward to welcoming you to Fiji.
14. Looking beyond the next five years, how do you see emerging aviation technologies affecting Fiji?
We are already seeing developments in advanced air mobility, unmanned aircraft and other emerging technologies across the Asia-Pacific region.
Advanced air mobility includes vertical take-off and landing aircraft, which take off and land like helicopters but can fly like fixed-wing aircraft, reducing the need for long conventional runways.
These technologies could eventually support urban mobility and the transport of passengers or supplies, including during disasters and medical emergencies.
We need to be ahead of the game, with regulations and guidance in place before these new aircraft arrive in Fiji. Our standards and compliance teams at CAAF are already examining these developments to ensure appropriate guidance is available.
The aviation landscape is changing. In the years ahead, we may see not only more drones and remotely piloted aircraft, but also larger uncrewed aircraft capable of carrying passengers or supplies.
