Pilot’s eye view

With the opening of the $3 million Faleolo Airport, Western Samoa strengthened its links with the rest of the Pacific and the world. With a sealed strip 5,000 ft long (to be extended to 5,500 ft), Faleolo can now receive jets like Air Pacific’s BAC One-Eleven 475.

Western Samoa’s own carrier, Polynesian Airlines, intends to add a second turbo-prop HS74B to its fleet. Minister for Civil Aviation Tupuola Efi said he hoped this plane would be in operation by November 1.

Air Pacific has a minority share in Polynesian. Since Polynesian graduated from the DCS era, Qantas an Air Pacific share holder, has contributed the tech nical expertise the Samoan airline needed, and Air New Zealand another partner in the consortiums, has weighed in with guidance in developing administrative proce dures.

New Zealand’s Director of Civil Aviation, Mr. Lew Taylor, is also designated Director of Civil Avia tion of Western Samoa, and his department supervises the safety aspect of operations. Mr. Efi told me this help was worth at least $lOO,OOO a year to Western Samoa.

Co-operation was strong between Air Pacific and Polynesian Air lines in the sharing of routes.

Polynesian was content with its allocation of the area east of 180 degrees longitude. Rarotonga, at present served by Air New Zea land with aircraft chartered from Air Pacific, fell in this region, he noted, but Polynesian did not have a suitable plane for the route.