Chatham Pacific’s small aircraft have been cleared to resume service in Tonga to the outer island of Niuatoputapu.Tongan Ministry of Transport deputy secretary Sione ‘Akau’ola, said the suspension of flights was lifted yesterday, Matangi Tonga reported.The airline had indicated flights could start again this week with its eight-seater aircraft.

An emergency landing that involved a nose wheel collapse on the airline’s eight-seater aircraft at Fua’amotu Airport last month led to suspension of all of the airline’s flights.On June 1, that suspension was lifted for its two 50-seater Convair, while the remaining smaller Queenair aircraft remained grounded.The airline had complied with the requirement of Civil Aviation and Pacific Aviation Safety Office PASO requirements in relation to its smaller aircraft.The nose wheel collapse was due to a corroded bolt, which the ministry said was due to a component failure that could not have been foreseen by the operator.The PASO inspector also did an audit of the total flight operation and recommended the airline’s air operators’ certificate be renewed.Chathams Pacific chief executive Craig Emeny said he understood the initial concerns of aviation officials in Tonga, and was pleased with the outcome.