EU restrictions cause worry for PIA

[Abbas Ali]

National carrier beset by safety issues

By Saad Hasan

KARACHI: The recent restriction imposed by European Union (EU) on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operated Boeing 747s should serve as a wakeup call for the national flag carrier, which also has had its new B777s grounded on technical faults a number of times.

PIA has stopped flying its B747 fleet to Europe from November 1, 2006 after European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) expressed dissatisfaction over the condition of the aircraft.

While PIA officials have downplayed the EU reservations claiming that they pertain to general appearance of aircraft and minor defects, there are recent instances of aircraft running into technical snags and the financial losses that are suffered as a consequence speak volumes about the problem.

One of the biggest areas of worry seems to be the B777 aircraft, which have been suffering problems of late. It is ironic that the aircraft that was supposed to be reviving the financial fortunes of PIA, now seem to be dragging the airline down instead.

One of the five newly inducted flagship B777 aircrafts was grounded at Manchester Airport on October 11 after its pressure panel was blown up while landing.

This flight, PK-721, was grounded awaiting the panel, without which structural integrity of the aircraft could not be assured by the ground staff. Such a defect occurring on a new aircraft reflects poor maintenance, since panels cannot blow off unless rivets are not properly secured or they are not latched, aviation experts told The News.

In a similar incident, a B777 was delayed at Manchester on August 30 because of a fuel leak from one its engines. While passengers were delayed for eight hours, the aircraft was stranded for 28 hours because of delay in parts procurement, sources told this scribe.

PIA had spent more than $576 million to purchase three B777-200ER and two B777-200LR aircrafts on equal instalments of $14.8 million.

Yet again on September 29, a damaged nose radome of a B777 (PK-703) left the aircraft unserviceable for almost eight days. This is because the airline’s parts procurement division failed in getting the timely replacement, say PIA insiders.

When contacted, PIA spokesman Imran Ghaznavi contradicted this by saying that the actual nose radome incident occurred on October 3 and not September 29 and the aircraft was repaired within hours.

He said that aircraft engineers on duty during the post flight of PK 319 observed a bird-hit dent on the nose radome of B777-200LR and this problem was rectified.

Another area of concern has been the parts procurement procedure adopted by the airline, which has become a major headache and expenditure for the carrier.

Some aviation experts recalled that in 2005, PIA started procuring parts through Aeroxchange- an online market place, which has fewer than 36 vendors against Boeing’s 180 all over the world.

The PIA spokesman says the Aeroxchange system has brought transparency and efficiency in PIA’s technical purchase activities and the buyer can use Internet to gain access to the global electronic exchange anytime anywhere.

At the same time, he also said that PIA is purchasing majority of the parts directly from Boeing, which numbered 4,000 in 2006. But he did not explain then exactly why the need for online exchange arose if the airline procured ‘majority of the parts’ from the American aerospace giant.

In a report earlier this year, the Boeing Company cited ambiguities in the parts procurement system saying when aircraft equipment is required on emergency basis, PIA is compelled to buy it on inflated rates.

In its recent report it has advised the national flag carrier to immediately shift to its vendors from online exchange facilitators.

Source: The News

Related topics:

EU to keep a "watchful eye" on PIA

PIA Boeing 777-240LR incident at MAN

[FULLTHRUST]

Another area of concern has been the parts procurement procedure adopted by the airline, which has become a major headache and expenditure for the carrier.

Some aviation experts recalled that in 2005, PIA started procuring parts through Aeroxchange- an online market place, which has fewer than 36 vendors against Boeing’s 180 all over the world.

The PIA spokesman says the Aeroxchange system has brought transparency and efficiency in PIA’s technical purchase activities and the buyer can use Internet to gain access to the global electronic exchange anytime anywhere.

At the same time, he also said that PIA is purchasing majority of the parts directly from Boeing, which numbered 4,000 in 2006. But he did not explain then exactly why the need for online exchange arose if the airline procured ‘majority of the parts’ from the American aerospace giant.

In a report earlier this year, the Boeing Company cited ambiguities in the parts procurement system saying when aircraft equipment is required on emergency basis, PIA is compelled to buy it on inflated rates.

I would urge people who care about PIA and would like to know what exactly AERXCHANGE does, please visit their website;

https://www.aeroxchange.com/custom/publ ... istory.htm

and check out for yourself. There is nothing I can further explain.

In a few words, it was formed by Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, America West Airlines, Austrian Airlines Group, Cathay Pacific Airways, FedEx Express, Japan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Northwest Airlines, Scandinavian Airline System and Singapore Airlines.

I am confident that people behind AEROXCHANGE have integrity, and honesty.

I would like to ask people, who are against AEROXCHANGE, that a person like JAWAID SHAIKH (Ex- PIA flight engineer, later became GM Fuel) left PIA, joined IATA as Director Engineering, worked there for good 5 years, and then helped those airlines mentioned above to form AEROXCHANGE.



Now once again by virtue of having close relation with TK, he had recently joined PIA as SVP Logistics to bring the corrupt mafia at task.

Let him do his job.

Do not expect the mess to be cleaned up overnight. There is a lot of kickbacks involved in parts procurement. AEROXCHANGE provides crystal clear procurement operations. People who are involved in procurement does not want PIA to stick to aeroxchange.

Some aviation experts recalled that in 2005, PIA started procuring parts through Aeroxchange- an online market place, which has fewer than 36 vendors against Boeing’s 180 all over the world.

Please visit their website to see fewer than 36 vendors!!!!!

[zerbaer]

... That's typical PK management type BS - tragic when coming from those pretending to sound professional. Read the Boeing study.
Visit ATA Spec2000-its the father of Aeroxchange and only a tool to partially help locate material/source. Spec2000 is the industry standard and PK have had the service for 20 years or more & pay for it. However, they try very hard not to use it. Via Aeroxchange they have only added a third server in the loop when they already know know the vendor/source.
There is no order th the madness at Procurement under Shaikh & gets worse by the day.

Latoun key bhoot batoun say......

[FULLTHRUST]

You said it very rightly, latoun kay bhoot batoun say nahin mantay. Shaikh is a professional. I would again say, let him do his job, if he fails, its not his credentials, its PK employees, and the BASTARD stake holders of those who served PK, and provided parts at their costs.

If you really think so, what you have said, get an AUDIT done in PIA TECH STORES, you will find millions of dollars worth of parts for the aircraft which are no longer in service!!!!!!

PS. I am not trying to write any "typical PK management BS" here. Yes, I am a SOUND PROFESSIONAL, not any more with PIA, at the same time I love PIA. I dont know about you zerbaer, but if you are in PIA, find a chance in next management.

[FULLTHRUST]

For your kind information zerbaer, an AUDIT was done 4 years back on PLANT PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, directed by Minister for Agriculture (at that time), and Chairman PIAC Ch. Ahmad Saeed, we found $ 3 Million worth of parts which were ordered for the whole fleet, and at that time there were only 2 cessnas serviceable from a fleet of 22 aircraft, having that kind of useless inventory in their stores!!!!!!!!

I dont know the current situation of PPD now, but you can very well figure out the situation in PK.

[DC10]

National carrier beset by safety issues

By Saad Hasan

KARACHI: The recent restriction imposed by European Union (EU) on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operated Boeing 747s should serve as a wakeup call for the national flag carrier, which also has had its new B777s grounded on technical faults a number of times.

While PIA officials have downplayed the EU reservations claiming that they pertain to general appearance of aircraft and minor defects, there are recent instances of aircraft running into technical snags and the financial losses that are suffered as a consequence speak volumes about the problem.

One of the biggest areas of worry seems to be the B777 aircraft, which have been suffering problems of late. It is ironic that the aircraft that was supposed to be reviving the financial fortunes of PIA, now seem to be dragging the airline down instead.

One of the five newly inducted flagship B777 aircrafts was grounded at Manchester Airport on October 11 after its pressure panel was blown up while landing.

This flight, PK-721, was grounded awaiting the panel, without which structural integrity of the aircraft could not be assured by the ground staff. Such a defect occurring on a new aircraft reflects poor maintenance, since panels cannot blow off unless rivets are not properly secured or they are not latched, aviation experts told The News.

In a similar incident, a B777 was delayed at Manchester on August 30 because of a fuel leak from one its engines. While passengers were delayed for eight hours, the aircraft was stranded for 28 hours because of delay in parts procurement, sources told this scribe.

PIA had spent more than $576 million to purchase three B777-200ER and two B777-200LR aircrafts on equal instalments of $14.8 million.

Yet again on September 29, a damaged nose radome of a B777 (PK-703) left the aircraft unserviceable for almost eight days. This is because the airline’s parts procurement division failed in getting the timely replacement, say PIA insiders.

When contacted, PIA spokesman Imran Ghaznavi contradicted this by saying that the actual nose radome incident occurred on October 3 and not September 29 and the aircraft was repaired within hours.

He said that aircraft engineers on duty during the post flight of PK 319 observed a bird-hit dent on the nose radome of B777-200LR and this problem was rectified.

Another area of concern has been the parts procurement procedure adopted by the airline, which has become a major headache and expenditure for the carrier.

Some aviation experts recalled that in 2005, PIA started procuring parts through Aeroxchange- an online market place, which has fewer than 36 vendors against Boeing’s 180 all over the world.

The PIA spokesman says the Aeroxchange system has brought transparency and efficiency in PIA’s technical purchase activities and the buyer can use Internet to gain access to the global electronic exchange anytime anywhere.

At the same time, he also said that PIA is purchasing majority of the parts directly from Boeing, which numbered 4,000 in 2006. But he did not explain then exactly why the need for online exchange arose if the airline procured ‘majority of the parts’ from the American aerospace giant.

In a report earlier this year, the Boeing Company cited ambiguities in the parts procurement system saying when aircraft equipment is required on emergency basis, PIA is compelled to buy it on inflated rates.

In its recent report it has advised the national flag carrier to immediately shift to its vendors from online exchange facilitators.

Source: The News

Related topics:

EU to keep a "watchful eye" on PIA

PIA Boeing 777-240LR incident at MAN

''KOI BATLAAYE KEH HUM BATLAYAIN KIA.''

[zerbaer]

It is rumored that SVP Engg has been removed & replaced by Ghulam Sarwar (BM) today. Has anyone any news on this?

[SENIOR]

The BBC has got hold of the news as well on the following link -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6418891.stm

That's not all, the Manchester schedule has been hit with the loss of around 10 flights from 22 to 12 flights with immediate effect until the Summer schedule kicks in on the 25Mar07.
The Summer schedule ex MAN shows 27 flights with IAH starting twice weekly WED/SUN with B772 but it looks like it ain't gonna happen !!

[zerbaer]

Did PK only submit the corrective maintenance plan, at the 11th. hour, only for B777 to EC?? Now that Kirmani & two other members whpo visited EU have had their (PK's) lap tops stolen on the recent trip to Europe, maybe they think no one will ever find out what they turned in to the EC!