The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has clarified the status of the Skyward Pinehills airstrip, which is situated approximately 8.5 kilometers southeast of Nadi International Airport. According to the Ministry, this privately owned airstrip has not been registered and has never been utilized for any aircraft operations since its construction in 2019, which was intended for private recreational aviation.
The owners of the airstrip previously engaged with the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji and Fiji Airports during the planning and development stages to address aviation safety and airspace concerns. However, due to its vicinity to Nadi International Airport, concerns were raised that led to a technical assessment and subsequent conditional approval in January 2020 for limited daytime operations. This approval was contingent upon strict requirements, including formal registration by the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAF).
Unfortunately, the completion of registration requirements was not fulfilled, and the process was further complicated by disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the airstrip remaining non-operational. The Ministry emphasized that the airstrip is closed to aircraft operations until all registration requirements are satisfied and approval is granted by CAAF.
Fortunately, the Ministry assured that there are currently no aviation safety risks associated with the airstrip, as no operations have taken place. The site remains under regulatory oversight, and any future use of the airstrip will be strictly contingent upon compliance with national regulations and international aviation safety standards. This diligence reflects a commitment to maintaining safety and regulatory integrity within Fiji’s aviation sector.
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