PIA ground engineers on unannounced 'go-slow' ?

[Abbas Ali]

Snags delay PIA flights

By Tahir Siddiqui

KARACHI, Nov 17: Over 60 domestic and international flights of the Pakistan International Airlines were delayed over the past 15 days due to technical snags. Sources told Dawn on Friday that inspection of aircraft by the Civil Aviation Authority was not the only reason for the flight delays; an unannounced ‘go-slow’ by ground engineers to press for their demands was also affecting the schedule.

An aircraft engineer who did not want to be named said the go-slow would continue till their salaries were enhanced.

There are over 700 ground engineers and over 1,300 aircraft technicians in the national carrier. A number of senior engineers and aircraft technicians have left the PIA since January this year for better jobs.

A member of the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan told Dawn that the PIA management was not accepting resignations being tendered by ground engineers and aircraft technicians. “Dozens of such resignation are pending acceptance”, he added.

Source: DAWN

On the Net: Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan

[inducedrag]

Thank God pilots are not blamed for this when ever there is a delay our cancellation of flights PALPA and its pilots are blamed for financial loss of airline this time on statement from management for any loss because of go slow by them.

[FULLTHRUST]

In my opinion, an Aircraft Engineer is supposed to dispatch an aircraft safe and on-time. If he finds any snag which is to be rectified before the flight in order to keep it airworthy, that is exactly what he is employed for and paid for. That is his JOB.

So Calling it a go-slow is absolutely ridiculous, and there are no Bold & Influential Aircraft Engineers left in PIA maintenance who are able to negotiate their demands with the management, without affecting the operations. I would say, Aircraft Engineers should show unity among themselves and do whatever it takes to dispatch an aircraft SAFE and On-time. Show management their effectivity of holding aircraft back on the ground for safety issues, and as well as sending an aircraft within the targeted timelines.

I know their salaries are exactly the same as of a technican in UAE, but they failed to communicate with the management of their existance/presence, and their ability to call an aircraft back in case of non-airworthy conditions.

This is mainly because, majority of aircraft engineers rise from ranks, and they lack communication, bargaining, and leadership skills.

Thank God pilots are not blamed for this when ever there is a delay our cancellation of flights PALPA and its pilots are blamed for financial loss of airline this time on statement from management for any loss because of go slow by them.

What is a Go-Slow or Go by the Book

It is exactly to follow the written laid down procedures from Regulatory Authorities, the problem is MANAGEMENT who get waivers, and position their employees in a troublesome situations. Apart from the management there are BLACK SHEEPs in both Flight Operations and Maintenance, who for the sake of a few hundred dollars sell their integrity, and make their fellow employees look like BLACK MAILERS.

This is GO SLOW. and when they try to operate as per the laid down procedures it becomes go by the book.

THAT IS THEIR JOB TO OPERATE BY THE BOOK. IT IS NOT A BLACK MAILING

[FMC]

PIA Engineers' GO SLOW is synonymus to MATCH FIXING when Pakistan cricket team loses a ODI.

[Aer Pakistan]

hi just like to add few more words what full thrust say

what engineer's are doing now should be done long time ago to save this airline. it was engineering department keep saying to give proper ground time to aircarft's and have full maintenance, but no body listen and where pia end up all of you know having all 747 banned for eu and usa network, on watch list too.

so it is not go slow, engineers are following rules of aviation books for maintenance to have safe and comfortable flight for our passenger's

regards

[F27]

If they follow the SOP then everybody listens. AVM Niaz had sown the seeds of inefficiency and AVM Gul will reap the harvest. With the enhancement of salaries the PIA Engineering should make all their planes Fly By Schedules.

[Moin]

I agree with what Aer Pakistan says. The aircraft are not given sufficient ground time for maintenance and checks and these engineers are expected to perform miracles and hand over the a/c for dispatch asap when in some cases that is just not possible.

Certain engineering works require time to complete and these people are not given enough time to carry out that work and if God forbid something goes wrong, the blame shifts to them, so what choice do they have? If you don't allow your a/c enough ground time for line maintenance and checks, problems will crop up. Things deemed not so necessary will be postponed and put off. I have heard this not just from AP above, but from senior members of the engineering dept: 'How can we properly maintain these a/c when were told that we have to hand over the a/c back for flight within 24 or 48 hours?'. And to top it off the medical allowance for the engineering dept has also been withdrawn. No wonder they're depressed.

The recent EU fiasco should have been an eye opener for the airline and unless and until you allocate sufficient time for your a/c to be maintained, there will continue to be problems.

[zerbaer]

The recent EU fiasco should have been an eye opener for the airline and unless and until you allocate sufficient time for your a/c to be maintained, there will continue to be problems.

Please look at your fleet utilization data by tail # for any month or the past some years. PK aircraft spend way too much time on ground. For any period of your choice, including the Umra/Hajj season i.e the highest revenue time every year, you will find a good portion of your fleet on the ground for no legit scheduled maintenance or reasons. If they are already wet leasing 11 or 12 aircraft this Hajj season, wonder what the current average daily utilization is for PK's own fleet. Say if one of 10 aircraft is required to operate the entire schedule then certainly there isn't enough ground time to do anything on that particular plane, but what about the other 9 aircraft!