KHJ News reported last month that Samoa Airways had requested the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate whether Pago Wings is authorized to operate charter flights between Tutuila and Manu’a.
Correspondence obtained by KHJ News showed that Samoa Airways attorneys in Washington DC had been contacted by an FAA inspector in Honolulu asking for information relevant to the investigation.
Samoa Airways said it appears that Pago Wings has not met the requirements for operating charter flights and has asked the FAA to look into this issue, as it poses potential safety risks.
Public Affairs Specialist for the Federal Aviation Administration Ian Gregor said, in response to KHJ News questions, “We neither confirm no comment on investigations.”
According to a story in online aviation news website, ch-aviation, Pago Wings has refuted that it improperly operated charter flights between Tutuila and Manu’a.
It telling ch-aviation its flights were in accordance with regulations. The company also said it is merely a limited liability company, not an air carrier.
KHJ News had reported that when Pago Wings was doing test flights to Manu’a, it was taking government employees back and forth.
Pago Wings President Marshall Ashley told ch-aviation, “Pacific Air Charters has operated some flights within American Samoa under Part 91 and carried passengers within American Samoa.”
He said, “These were not test flights and did not require any authorization.”
Ashley also clarified the nature of Pago Wings’ structure and how it would operate.
“Pago Wings LLC is an LLC organized in American Samoa to hold title to aircraft (which are leased to Pacific Air Charters) and to isolate the American Samoa tax consequences,” he said. “It is not an air carrier and has not operated any flights.”
