But the drone of a visiting flying boat perhaps dispatched to collect a sick islander will set the hamlet alive.

As a young boy then studying at the island's intermediate school, Matereti Tuisue could still picture those regular visits by the Royal New Zealand Air Force's massive Sunderland sea planes.

The RNZAF used to have a base at Laucala Bay in Suva between 1939 and 1967.

"I'm usually the first one in the class to yell "waqavuka" (aeroplane) and rush out of the classroom whenever we hear the drone of a plane engine," Tuisue recalls.

"We will be yelling and waving our hands at the seaplane, all the time running to the beach to watch the plane splash down and towed closer to shore.

"Our poor teacher is usually the last one to join the crowd, in many cases happy I suspect at the timely interruptions of those visiting flying boats."

Captain Matereti Tuisue is the most senior pilot with Air Pacific, Fiji's own national airline, having joined the company almost 40 years ago, in 1972.

It is loyal employees like him that makes the slogan the world's friendliest airline more than just a brand for Air Pacific.

Unlike some of his colleagues who flew onto 'bluer skies,' Captain Tuisue declined lucrative offers from some of the world's larger and wealthier airlines.

"I owe my career to this country which gave me the opportunity to fulfil my dreams and goals.

“Without that, I would not be where I am today," said Captain Tuisue.

"I also love working for Air Pacific because it is a Fiji company and I live right here at home.

“It would be difficult for me to leave Fiji, for my country is beautiful with beautiful and friendly people and I belong with them.

"Also I would like to, in a small way, contribute or give something back to the aviation and tourism industry in Fiji."

Tuisue is a Kadavu-an through and through.

His father's from Lomanikoro on Nakasaleka district while his mother comes from Lawaki in the same district.

Growing up in Lawaki and Nakasaleka where his father taught as a school teacher and later in Vunisea, the young Tuisue dreamt a lot about flying.

For someone who had never been on an aeroplane, these were strange dreams indeed.

"The dreams were the same, in that I was airborne and flying above trees and structures and above playing fields where sports like rugby were being played.

"I often looked down and see what was below me including people and identify what or who they were.

"I mentioned my dreams to my mother who opened the Bible one day and read to me a certain passage.

"She then interpreted the passage and said that I will either become a pilot or a ship captain, and from then on, my goal of becoming a pilot was set in concrete. How that was going to happen I had no idea at that time, but the good Lord Jesus have no doubt, was and is still on my side."

After secondary school in Vitilevu, young Matereti was trained and worked briefly for what is now Telecom Fiji as a trainee technician before he pursued a diploma in mechanical and electrical engineering at the then Derrick Technical Institute in Samabula.

As if guided by his childhood dreams and the words of his mother, life as a technician was however, not to be Tuisue's destiny.

He applied and was among a handful of students that were selected to be part of the British Government Technical Scheme which allowed him to pursue commercial pilot training at the Oxford Air Training School in England.

Whilst waiting for his departure for England, he commenced pilot training on a private basis at Nausori airport.

"My first flight ever was on a training flight here at Nausori airport on a Victor 115 aircraft in 1969.

“Only my instructor was on board with me and I cannot described the feeling I had being up there in the sky actually manipulating the aircraft.

“The flight was for one hour and it only solidified my dream.”

For someone who didn’t get an opportunity to fly until he was 21 years old, the long time pilot has indeed ‘flown’ a long way.

Coincidentally, it was also for 21 years that he held the position of Head of Flight Operations for Air Pacific.

Last year, he decided to give that up and returned to his first, well second love after his wife Rosena and family.

“In my heart I sincerely believe that it was time to move on and hand it over to someone else who I have no doubt will come up with new ideas.

“I love flying so that is the reason I am back flying the line, and at the same time assist in a training role.”

Tuisue tries not to have a favourite in the type of aircraft he commands.

With some persistence however, he does admit that if it comes down to personal choice, he will fly a Boeing 747-400 any day.

What about Boeing’s wonder plane, the B787 being dubbed the Dreamliner aircraft, of which Air Pacific had ordered five for delivery by 2015?

“I have not been inside a Boeing 787, but have seen from a distance the first B787 on the production line in Seattle during a visit there in summer of 2008.

“From the information I have about the aircraft, the photos and the footage of the test flight, I believe it is going to be a very nice aircraft to fly.

“It would probably be what many would call “top of the range” design and performance and “fully loaded” with cutting edge technology.

“I would love to inspect the interior of the aircraft in particular the flight deck and if the opportunity presents itself, I would love to manipulate it on a demonstration flight.”

As a senior pilot, Tuisue says he doesn’t have a favourite airport either.

Yet for someone who has travelled the world so many times over in his line of work, he surely must have a favourite.

“As a flight crew, I do not have a favourite airport, but as a passenger it would be Singapore because of the good flow of passengers.

“I have not visited the new Hong Kong Airport yet, so I cannot compare the two.”

After nearly 40 years of flying, Captain Tuisue’s manifest of passengers he had carried safely would no doubt accumulate into the thousands.

He could still remember the names of some of them.

“The experiences that I have encountered are many, but the visits to the flight deck by Fiji’s leaders like Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau, Mr Josevata Kamikamica and other leaders are moments that will remain with me forever.”

For someone who has invested two thirds of his life with Air Pacific, Tuisue agreed that there had been some very strong reasons.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Fiji’s people are the friendliest in the world and with that comes the genuine warmth of service we provide.

“We in Fiji are often referred to as the friendliest people in the world so why not have it as a brand?

“Your island in the sky was good at the time it was accepted as a brand but time has changed and we should move with it.”

Asked about a message he would offer for Fiji’s youths, the Kadavu flyer said:

“Make education your number one priority because without a good education it will be difficult to fulfil your dreams and goals.

“Work hard to fulfil your dreams and listen closely to the words of wisdom and vision of your parents because they were appointed by God to look after you in this world, particularly as you are growing up”

So when not flying an aircraft, what do pilots like him do?

For Tuisue, days off are spent catching up with house work and spending time with family.

“There is a lot to be done at home, and additionally I have my grandchildren to spend time with.”

Actually when he’s busy pottering around the family home or playing with his grandchildren, there is all the likelihood that the Tuisue name will still be on the cockpit crew duty roster for his youngest son, Etika is a first officer in the two Boeing 747-400 that Air Pacific operates.

The young Tuisue did his pilot training in the United States and holds a pilot licence for the US, Australia as well as for Fiji.

Etika’s older siblings are twins - Alipate and Miriama.

The former now lives with his young family in Eugene near Portland, Oregon whilst Miriama works at the Fiji Beach Resort & Spa at Denarau.

Merelita is Captain Tuisue and Rosena nee Mavoa’s eldest daughter, who is Post Fiji’s Public Relations manager.

The senior Tuisue was modest about his achievements in Fiji’s aviation industry as well in the success of his children, only venturing to say that for him, his family has been his source of strength.

“I am sure you will agree that in any individual, the family is the strength behind that individual, in particular his or her spouse.

“They will be with you, rain or shine.”

l Contributed by Air Pacific’s Media Office