The Permanent Secretary for Defense and Security and Search and Rescue Director has acknowledged and thanked the agencies involved in the search and rescue and salvage of the Cessna 172 in Labasa earlier this year.

Osea Cawaru acknowledged the agencies at the Fiji Initial Air Observer Course at the Airports Fiji Limited Training Academy in Nadi yesterday.

The inaugural program was conducted by the Maritime New Zealand Rescue Coordination Center and included over 20 personnel from AFL, the Fiji Navy, Fiji Police Force, Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji and pilots from Sunflower Academy.

Cawaru was also encouraged to note that most institutions represented at the program have adopted an interdisciplinary approach and collaborated.

He says the coordination has also been enhanced through the sharing of new robotic and virtual reality technologies by respective agencies, with the help of volunteers to assist in the process and to do so in an engaging and interactive way.

Cawaru says on the flipside, the plane incident has challenged their Search and Rescue apparatus with queries raised in parliament and the public through social media and he acknowledged the brave men deployed to the site and ground coordinators of air assets on a job well done.

The three‑day program includes sessions on the role of on‑scene commanders in aerial searches, with a practical Search and Air exercise to commence on April 3rd.