Red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner. The cross reflects the deep-rooted Christianity in Tonga, red represents the blood of Christ and his sacrifice, and white signifies purity.

Flag courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Map courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Google Earth

A Tongan fire dancer lights a torch during the Coronation Military Tattoo in Nuku’alofa, on 7 July 2015. A tattoo is comprised of military units both musical and operational, from different countries, performing musically as well as demonstrating military capabilities.

Photo courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Government

According to Britannica, Tonga’s constitution, granted in 1875 by King George Tupou I and amended only slightly since, established a constitutional monarchy. The chief executive is the monarch, who governs in close consultation with the prime minister in all matters except the judiciary; the monarch alone holds the power to appoint judges, grant clemency, and commute prison sentences. The monarch appoints a Privy Council, which consists of the monarch and the cabinet. The cabinet has a prime minister, a deputy prime minister, other ministers, and the governors of Ha‘apai and Vava‘u. The unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea) has 26 seats: 9 hereditary nobles are elected by their peers, and 17 representatives are directly elected for three-year terms by all citizens age 21 and over. Local government is provided by three island councils: one covering ‘Eua, the Niuas, and Tongatapu, one for the Vava‘u Group, and one for the Ha‘apai Group. The Privy Council acts as part of the court system as well as assisting the monarch in an advisory capacity; it hears appeals from the land court. The Court of Appeal has jurisdiction over civil and criminal appeals from the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court hears cases on matters arising under the constitution and laws of the kingdom, except for cases concerning titles to land. There are also magistrates’ courts and a land court. Judges are appointed by the monarch with the consent of the Privy Council and serve indefinite terms unless removed for cause.

Civil / National Aviation Authority (CAA/NAA)

The Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) is an international organization providing quality aviation safety and security service for Member States in the Pacific.

PASO is the sole international organization 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. Government representatives from these nations make up the PASO Council.

Airspace

SkyVector – Google Maps – ADS-B Exchange

ICAO countries publish an Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). This document is divided into three parts: General (GEN), En Route (ENR) and Aerodromes (AD). ENR 1.4 details the types of airspace classes they chose to adopt from classes A through G. Tonga AIP

Drone Regulations

Tonga Civil Aviation Rules (CARs)

Currently, there is no legal framework for the use of drones.

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)

Short Essay Questions