Tauranga airline grounded over imminent risk to public safety

Sunair Aviation has been grounded after a Civil Aviation Authority raised serious concerns to public safety. Photo/file

A Tauranga airline has been grounded because of serious concerns for people's safety.

The Civil Aviation Authority has this week suspended Sunair Aviation's Air Operator Certificate, citing an imminent risk to public safety. The airline has been grounded for at least 10 days as the authority investigates.

Authority spokesman Mike Richards said there were ''serious concerns about the safety of Sunair's operation" and the suspension could be extended.

''However, it remains in force if the safety issues are not addressed to the satisfaction of the director of Civil Aviation.''

"The Sunair Air Operator Certificate has been suspended under section 17 of the Civil Aviation Act because this operator poses an imminent and unacceptable risk to public safety.''

An ongoing investigation found "key areas of concern", Mr Richards said, and the operator now had to address those concerns.

''The suspension will result in disruption to public travel but other flight options are available on the main routes flown by Sunair.

''Travel to places such as Motiti Island may be affected in the short term, but it is possible another operator may fly these routes in future.''

Richards said the authority would not comment further while an investigation was under way.

The airline was still advertising daily flights to Whitianga and on-call flights to Motiti Island yesterday. Motiti Island resident Aubrey Hoete was stunned to learn he would not be able to fly with Sunair next week, when he had an appointment in Tauranga.

''I'm totally surprised. It's totally new to me,'' he said.

Hoete said he has always and would always fly with the airline ''because they make me feel comfortable and they always land in the paddock I want them to land in''.

''They've been providing me with good service for years. I have no problems with them at all.''

Sunair owner Bev Power said the suspension was an "over-reaction".

''The proficiency of the company's flight crew and the airworthiness of the aeroplane fleet is not in question.

''It is our hope that our airline operation will be back flying shortly.''

However, she said the airline was working with the authority and having meetings in Wellington today.

Power declined to comment further.