Four PIA pilots suffer heart attack due to work stress

[Abbas Ali]

By Baqir Sajjad Syed

ISLAMABAD, June 22: Four pilots of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have suffered heart attacks in recent weeks because of the growing work pressure, adding to the woes of the already beleaguered airline.

The Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA) has attributed the incidence to ‘accumulated stress’ and claimed that this rate was much higher than global aviation industries.

“Pilots are not getting required off-days because of the shortage of pilots, heavy schedule and poor planning,” PALPA president Captain Khalid Hamza said, adding that the fatigue had begun to take its toll.

A pilot says that one of the contributory factors is airline’s policy of relating pilots’ remuneration to the time they fly and stay out, prompting them to fly more.

All the four pilots who suffered heart attacks fly Boeing 777s that are catering for most of the flights to the European Union and North America following an EU ban on PIA’s ageing fleet.

The PIA, PALPA said, was flying short of 39 cockpit crew sets on Boeing 777.

The association holds the Civil Aviation Authority responsible for the shortage of pilots.

Mr Hamza said that delays in line checks of Boeing 737 pilots because of issues over the qualification of the CAA inspector were blocking the promotion of pilots.

Admitting that four pilots have suffered heart attacks, the PIA management contended that this figure was negligible considering the number of pilots in the airline.

The management disputed the PALPA’s claim of ‘accumulated stress’ and said: “There is no question of accumulated stress as pilots’ duty hours are rigorously being observed.”

When asked that several pilots were flying with medical conditions, the airline management said that this was something allowed according to mandatory medical guidelines governing pilots’ flight operations under the supervision of the PIAC chief flight surgeon and CAA’s directorate of aero-medicine.

A source put the number of pilots flying with medical conditions at about 40 per cent of the pilots’ strength in the airline.

Source: DAWN

On the Net: Pakisan Airline Pilots' Association (PALPA)

[javed]

Perhaps, PIA management and CAA need to put in place a mandatory physical training/fitness programme for all Pakistani pilots. Sugar & Blood cholestrlol levels should be monitored on daily basis by a qualified doctor.

Pilots should be triming their weight instead of monkeying around especilly when overseas.

[behramjee]

All the four pilots who suffered heart attacks fly Boeing 777s

that means they were senior, experienced and highly qualified pilots...big blow to the carrier.

[zerbaer]

Big lies getting exposed!

[R.F.]

Any idea who these four genetlemen are ???

[umar744]

i know only
1. captain Kazmi
2. first officer khalid azmat

but captain mumtaz ul haq had been heart operation and well done fit fly but he will retire pilot next month.

i dont know two more pilot name i will try find out

[TAC777]

President PALPA has given very true picture and brave statement. Pilots are working under tremendous stress and pressure. The working environment,family obligations and the socioeconomic structure of the society and generally the whole country, professional worries and blackmail by management in forcing pilots to violate duty time limitations are taking its toll. If someone asks for 12 hours notice to operate flight he is taken as antiestablishment. They reduce flight time by changing winds and flight levels and increase mach no which is all engineered. But it is being penny wise and pound foolish. A pilot is worth millions to any airline who is so experienced and nurtured in airline flying environment,flying to so many countries in the world and has weathered so many storms. Most of them ironically were or are health freaks, like KHALID AZMAT who quarelled and reported against so many captains aginst smoking and quite a few flights were delayed, then Anwer zaidi who is still in a hospital in Manchester always had green tea and nothing else. The management has forced many pilots to violate flight duty times other wise they will be fixed up in simulator checkrides or as it is claimed by many. The story goes on and on.A pilot cannot confirm his family seats on NOSUB1 which he earns and is part of his salary in all airlines of the world. Their families are offloaded in Newyork, Chicago, Toronto etc etc. All these things pile up together with family problems. TODAY A PILOT WANTS DIGNITY RESPECT AND HONOUR AND NOTHING MORE.LONG LIVE THE UNITY OF PILOTS

[umar744]

latest pilot name

1.captain anwar zaidi in manchester
2. captain anwar sidduqi
3. captain jan
4. first officer farrukh wasim

they ground by heart problem

[javed]

Anwer zaidi who is still in a hospital in Manchester always had green tea and nothing else.

How fatty was his diet ? How much red meat and how much of transfats.....

No offence intended to Pilots but Pakistanis in general (including myself) don't eat healthy food.

[PakN'US]

Anwar Zaidi is an old friend of mine from School days. Can some one please up-date me on the affair? I have tried calling his cell and home numbers but of no-vail. BTW I am in Chicago.
Many thanks

[Abbas Ali]

Pilot health crisis deepens

ISLAMABAD, June 23: A health crisis in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has aggravated further after another one of its pilots suffered a heart attack, Dawn has learnt.

The PIA pilot had suffered the heart attack in Manchester on Friday afternoon. Previously, it was reported that four other PIA pilots had suffered heart attacks.

The Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA) had held ‘accumulated stress’ and lack of proper off days responsible for the growing number of cardiac arrests among pilots.

Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Mr Pervez George said the regulator was deeply concerned about the matter. The CAA had grounded another four pilots suspected of cardiac problems.

Source: DAWN

[umar744]

salam hello
please pray God Allah for Capt.Anwar Zaidi also other pilots hopefully to recovery good health inshallah.
love regards

[javed]

A pilot cannot confirm his family seats on NOSUB1 which he earns and is part of his salary in all airlines of the world. Their families are offloaded in Newyork, Chicago, Toronto etc etc. All these things pile up together with family problems.

Ofcourse revenue passengers have a higher priority. I have seen many US/Canadian pilots themselves being denied boarding with SUBLO tickets. Pilots need to understand that SubLO is a SubLo (Subject to Load) ticket and can NOT over ride a revenue ticket. They make mistake when they sign their employment contracts. This is pure fault on Pilots part not the airline.

Why the heck Pilot families choose to travel in high season on sub-lo tickets. They and their families (quite large compared to world standards) make a concious choice and thus should be ready to face the consequences. What the heck PALPA is noising about. This is total absurd. Your members are not physically fit and you blame the employer. Go get your self in shape first.