Minister for Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka has issued a stark warning to parents after recounting the story of a family selling roti parcels to fund their child’s dream of becoming a pilot, saying the total cost of training can approach $100,000 and families must fully understand the financial burden before committing. Gavoka raised the issue while speaking in Parliament, framing it as a growing concern in Fiji’s small aviation market where training costs and limited employment opportunities can leave newly licensed pilots struggling to progress.
“I have had visitors to my office, Mr Speaker, Sir, of a family selling roti parcels to fund their child’s training as a pilot. We are talking about close to $100,000 by the end of the day,” Gavoka told lawmakers. He cautioned that earning a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), while an important milestone, does not guarantee jobs with airlines. In Fiji’s compact aviation sector, newly qualified pilots often need to accumulate substantial additional flying hours and experience before they can move towards the Airline Transport Pilot Licence required for airline operations.
Gavoka used the anecdote to underline the wider pressures on families and the limited public support available for pilot training. Under the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Scheme (TSLS), Fiji Airways administers an aptitude test as part of its scholarship selection, and for 2026 about 101 candidates sat that test. Nevertheless, only 20 scholarships are available each year, a bottleneck Gavin said constrained opportunities despite a high calibre of applicants. “According to Fiji Airways, the quality of the candidates was quite high, but they could only provide 20 scholarships each year and that is consistent with the demand in aviation,” he said.
The minister urged parents to research and plan thoroughly before committing to expensive flight training. “So I am pleading with parents to really understand the magnitude of the undertaking when they support their children to take up flying,” Gavoka said, noting that some families may feel compelled to take on heavy private costs that do not necessarily translate into immediate employment or career stability.
Gavoka also urged young people to consider the broader range of careers within the aviation sector, beyond piloting. He pointed to alternatives such as engineering and “space management” — areas that can provide stable employment without the same upfront financial outlay required for pilot licences. He added that, more broadly, students could explore other professions rather than placing heavy financial pressure on families to privately fund pilot training.
This latest intervention from the civil aviation minister highlights the widening gap between aspirants seeking pilot careers and the limited scholarship and employment pathways available locally. With high training costs and a small national aviation market, Gavoka’s comments underscore the need for clearer career guidance, realistic planning by families, and consideration of how scholarship schemes and industry demand align with the ambitions of Fiji’s young would-be aviators.
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