The Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO),
welcomed representatives from Member States and a special delegation from the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to its Annual General Meeting, held in
Port Vila Vanuatu from May 27-31, 2024.
This year’s meeting was significant as it was the first time that the ICAO has attended
since PASO establishment in 2007.
The meeting featured crucial discussions on the upcoming Regional Aviation Ministers
Meeting (RAMM), scheduled for May 2025. This important event, has not convened in
person since 2019 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
At the culmination of the meeting, the Council member elections were held. The Chief
Executive Officer and Secretary for Transport of MWTI, Afioga Fui Tupai Mau Simanu on
behalf of Samoa was re-elected as the Chairperson, whilst Tonga and the Cook Islands
were returned as the Deputy Chairs. Elections to determine PASO leaders are held
annually.
Also representing Samoa at the PASO meeting was Principal Civil Aviation Officer MWTI,
Ms Venice Roebeck and Samoa Airport Authority Manager for Legal Services, Namulauulu
Elemesi Schmidt.
PASO belongs to the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) which was
established by the Pacific Island Forum Leaders. It is the sole international organisation
responsible for regional regulatory aviation safety oversight service for the 10 Pacific
States who are signatories to the Pacific Islands Civil Aviation Safety and Security Treaty
(PICASST).
The current PICASST signatories are the Pacific nations of Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru,
Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Associate
Members of PASO are Australia, Fiji and New Zealand.
Its headquarters are located in Port Villa and its current General Manager is the former
General Manager of the Samoa Airport Authority Afioga Silimana’i Ueta Solomona.