Acting Police Commissioner Mesake Waqa and Minister for Civil Aviation, Viliame Gavoka
Police have today confirmed that they will investigate any claims of unauthorized aircraft suspected to be connected to a suspicious activity in Namulomulo, Nadi.
Acting Police Commissioner Mesake Waqa has confirmed this to fijivillage News as we continue to receive information from concerned members of the public that helicopters had been landing at the location and transporting large quantities of goods.
When fijivillage News visited the area, we were blocked from going to the airstrip in question by some people in Namulomulo.
They said that it is private property.
Minister for Civil Aviation, Viliame Gavoka will not make further comments as people have started saying that suspicious activity has been taking place at the airstrip.
He issued a statement regarding the privately owned Skyward Pinehills airstrip near Nadi, following public concerns raised about alleged helicopter activity at the site.
In a statement, the Minister says the Skyward Pinehills airstrip, located approximately 8.5 kilometres southeast of Nadi International Airport, was constructed in 2019 for private recreational aviation purposes.
Gavoka says during the planning and development phase, the owners engaged with the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAF) and Fiji Airports regarding aviation safety and airspace considerations.
Due to the airstrip’s proximity to Nadi International Airport, initial concerns were raised by Fiji Airports.
Following further technical assessment, Gavoka says conditional approval was issued in January 2020 allowing limited daytime use, subject to the fulfilment of specific requirements and the formal registration of the airstrip by CAAF in accordance with regulatory requirements.
However, the Ministry confirms that the implementation of certain requirements necessary for registration was not completed, with progress later affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He says as a result, the airstrip has not been registered and according to him, it has not been used for any aircraft operations to date.
Gavoka further states that the site remains closed to aircraft operations.
