Pakistan grounds Fokker planes after crash

[Junaid]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Wednesday grounded a fleet of ageing Fokker planes operated by Pakistan International Airlines after one of them crashed this week, killing all 45 people on board.

The cabinet decided for safety reasons to remove the remaining seven Fokker F27 turboprops from passenger service, Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani told reporters.

"No Fokker aircraft will be used for commercial purposes from today," Durrani said.

"The entire cabinet was as concerned as you are. This existing PIA fleet and its maintenance and related services were reviewed and suggestions were gathered in the cabinet meeting about maintenance and services," he said.

The Fokker planes, used solely on domestic routes, will be temporarily replaced by military C-130 Hercules aircraft for remote airfields, Durrani said. Boeing jets will be used for larger airports.

Fokkers will only be used for cargo services if required, he added.

PIA is due to take delivery of new ATR 42 aircraft to replace the Fokkers in the near future.

Source: The News


http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp#5281

[flyingsystem]

THIS is a good news...

[Abbas Ali]

I feel sorry for PIA's fleet of Fokker F-27s. It's unfortunate end for the legendary aircraft that served the airline for more than four decades, including on the Northern Areas routes considered among the most difficult in the world. PIA Fokkers deserved a better farewell.

Abbas

[nutsforplanes]

So what happens to all the F27 operated routes. Is PIA going to lease turboprops till all the ATR's come on line.

[Amaad Lone]

PIA should ask ATR to deliver atleast two ATR42-500s ahead of schedule.

How long will it take PIA to train enough pilots to operate two additional ATR42??

Around 3 months.

With the Fokkers grounded PIA will have their pilots available for immediate training, so its just a matter of getting the early delivery slots.

How about a couple of ATR72-500s, if any can be delivered asap???

Will these pilots require any special training to operate to the Northern Areas (Gilgit, Chitral, Skardu)??

If only PIA had not been so slow in deciding a replacement for the F.27s.

A disgracefull exit for a splendid aircraft.

[muddassir]

An impulsive decision based on appeasement of public opinion and politics rather than technical factors.

[nutsforplanes]

Muddassir welcome to HOP.

I think this 'cabinet' decision is a slap on the face of CAA, being the regulatory authority.

They should have atleast waited for outcome of the crash investigation to before reaching a conclusion. Thousands will suffer.

[hasan saleem]

PIA will lease two ATR-72 with immediate effect and will utilize a C-130 on the northern routes.

And 737 s will replace the routes where airports can handle 737s

[Moin]

Well whoever wants to get a chance of riding in a C-130 nows your chance. Don't expect much by way of service and comfort though!

Unfortunately the Govt has, is and will always be meddling where they shouldn't.

On the other hand if a particular type of a/c develops a fault which results in a crash and the death of pax, its normal practice to ground the fleet till the cause of the problem is found and rectified. Here they are saying that it was human error so the above might not be applicable to this scenario.

Its sad that it had to take an event like this to make the airline ground these planes. I'm pretty sure it was not an internal decision to do so but rather outside 'interference'. PIA would have loved to use these planes till their skins peeled off.

[PK777]

Well in a way its good to see these aircraft go, but as they have played a great part in PK history the aircraft will go in shame. Sad really

[hasan saleem]

A sad ending to one of the finest and longest serving aircraft for PIA

We could still see it flying as cargo or traini9ng purposes

Would still love to take a ride on these old birdies

[optimist]

Tonight again I found the "news" that Fokkers have been grounded, I did check the PIA's website at about 2am PST and there was no mention of grounding of Fokkers... But I called the UAN number (1117861876) and they confirmed it this time... There was no thread about it on a.net so I started one, I later found checked out this forum and thought this thread was from 10th July rumors...

http://www.airliners.net/discussions/ge ... n/2875084/

[muddassir]

Govt had decided that C-130 will operatoe to destinations served by Fokker

Easier said than done. As I already said its an impulsive knee kerk decision. Just take the C-130 thing, there are many questions to be asked for example
- Who will foot the bill of operating 4 engine beast in place of a small fokker. How will they fill the excess capacity.

- By no means implying that they are not well kept but the airworthiness standards of military aircraft are different to those in commercial aviation, who will insure the passengers

- What will be CAA jurisdiction on operation of military C-130s operating passenger service.

and last but no the least some Hercs are even OLDER than the poor Fokker.

Dear "Nutsforplanes"
thnx for welcoming me \ You rightly said that this a slap on CAA but i think irresponsible reporting in the media and comments by some PROFESSIONALS even on this forum show how ignorant we are on this whole affair, for example chairman PALPA's comments on PTV and ATV.(pl see my comments on "Fokker Down thread"

[Unbiased Flyer]

Well telling you the truth, many people say that if engines catch fire, its no problem. You apply procedure fo "Engine Fire" followed by "Single Engine Operation". It is still a mystery why the aircraft was not able to sustain itself in air with one engine as it is designed to fly with one engine as well. It is believed that it is a pilot error. The crew might have shut down the wrong engine by which the aircraft was not able gain speed and height and thus flight only lasted less that one minute.

[Abbas Ali]

Cabinet stops Fokker flights for passengers

ISLAMABAD, July 12: The federal cabinet on Wednesday announced an immediate ban on the use of Fokker aircraft for passenger flights.

The cabinet, which met here with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in the chair, called for a ‘transparent and speedy probe’ into Monday’s Fokker crash and directed the investigation committee to find ‘exact reasons that caused the horrible tragedy’.

“From now onwards Fokker planes will not be used for commercial flights. Though the Fokker fleet is meeting all international standards, we have imposed the ban owing to growing demands from passengers and cabinet members,” Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani told a briefing later.

When pointed out that much before the Multan crash Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal had asked PIA to stop using Fokker planes for commercial flights, Mr Durrani said: “That’s why now you see the ban.”

According to insiders, some cabinet members said that although Fokker aircraft were considered the safest worldwide, in Pakistan they were called ‘flying coffins’ because they were being used beyond their capacity and age, and their maintenance left a lot to be desired.

They called upon the PIA management to apply for fresh International Air Transport Association certification to restore passengers’ confidence at the domestic and international levels.

“How many of us are willing to fly with PIA. In fact, passengers have lost confidence which needs to be restored,” sources quoted a minister as saying at the meeting.

Mr Durrani said it would be premature to link the crash to terrorism. “Let’s wait for the report of the investigation committee,” he said in reply to a query.

The Fokker fleet will be used only for cargo and other purposes, including charter by private parties. The F-27 fleet, comprising six aircraft, is being replaced with ATRs.

To meet the gap created by the grounding, Boeing aircraft will fly between destinations with facility for large aircraft.

To other domestic destinations, such as Northern Areas and Chitral, C-130 aircraft will be used and if needed they will be chartered from other countries.

PIA said in an announcement that in pursuance of the government decision it had decided to make alternative arrangements for its Fokker flights. All F-27 passengers were requested to contact the PIA call centre at UAN: 111-786-786.

Source: DAWN