Helicopter in Tonga, Samoa and Tokelau

[Spunk]

Being bored over the holidays I started to google for helicopter operators in various places, mainly on islands far far away from my freezing home.
Remembering the former King of Tonga, my search came up with this result:
Helicopter Tonga (https://matangitonga.to/2016/01/04/tongas-own-helicopter-service-soon)

I thought “let’s see how these guys are doing today” and found out that after only 3 months they moved on to Samoa.
From Tonga to Samoa (http://kanivatonga.nz/2016/02/tongas-first-helicopter-ships-out-to-samoa-as-kingdoms-authority-declines-certification/)

I told myself “OK, now you got me curious”. They actually started their operation but after only three months they ceased again. According to their FB page both helicopter were undergoing a change of ownership.
Ever since that final entry... silence.

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Samoa-Helicopters-Limited-1677841295837031/)

And to make a long story short, it looks like they started a second attempt in Tonga. According to their facebook page (Tonga Helicopters) as of august 2017:
One again we are considering bringing a professional rescue helicopter service to Tonga, a helicopter that can be a multi task machine covering rescue missions, tourist flights, patrol work and VIP transport, this time the approvals will be done before we arrive in Tonga with the helicopter...we trust the good people of Tonga will get in behind us and support our plans, Ofa atu.

Must be one heck of a business plan they have.

During the same period of time a different helicopter fairy tale made it into the news:

Helicopter Tokelau (https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/337306/tokelau-public-servant-says-helicopter-purchase-not-nz-s-business)

For my own personal entertainment and out of curiousity:
Coincidence or the same guys being involved?

[Fareastdriver]

Reminds me of the Solomon Islands with RAMSI. (Regional Aid Mission to the Solomon Islands). After the dust had settled civil helicopters were charted to carry out the logistic support of all the police stations scattered around the islands.

Bristow (Aus) arrive with their AS 332. Shacked up in a hotel in the bar the Chief Pilot is approached by the Finance Minister who wants the import duty for the helicopter.........

In cash, now.

He demand was turned down because he needed the cash for food and beer.

[gulliBell]

At least our food was provided for free on that contract, but I worked for the other mob with the green helicopters. 20 hours flying per month maximum; kind of got exciting when the locals started burning the place down and pelting rocks at us. Because then we got to break-out the ammo boxes which contained all sorts of interesting whiz-bang stuff.

[Fareastdriver]

You lot lived in that mossy ridden hotel in the middle of the bumpy bit near Honiara.

After the riots we moved to a plush place next to the yacht club.

[nomorehelosforme]

LOL, What is that in the case? Doesn't look like beer to me!!!

[gulliBell]

That is Santa's toy box for big boys. All non-lethal, stuff of different flavours and colours that go bang, whiz, flash and ouch. Never-the-less lots of fun on a Sunday afternoon after church. BYO 40mm grenade launcher if your tennis elbow is playing up, or if just feeling too lazy to throw. The lethal stuff was in the other green box that the crewman sat on, but you had to get the OK from the guy on the other end of the radio before we could use that. Then it was no longer play time. The boys had no fashion sense during play time, I only ever saw them wearing black.

[tutu]

Complete nut case with the gift of the gab trying to organise that. Have many stories about him.