EU set to ban most PIA Planes

[mohammad abdulaziz]

Many thanks for your quick response. I understand that I bother you with frequent queries, sometimes unnecessarily. I hope you do not mind.

[Abbas Ali]

EU body refuses to ease curbs on PIA

LAHORE: Air Safety Commission (ASC) of European Union refused to withdraw the restrictions on PIA’s flights to Europe in a meeting with the delegation of PIA high-ups.

PIA said the current developments as a result of the EU proposed action against PIA’s flights to the EU would understandably be of concern to Pakistanis in general and its customers in particular. The meeting was held in an emergency at PIA’s request at the EU Air Transport Headquarters Brussels on March 2, 2007 which remained unsuccessful therefore PIA would not be able to operate in EU with Boeing 747s and Airbus A310s. However, PIA can operate in European countries with its seven Boeing 777 fleet, source added.

According to the spokesman of PIA, they have already undertaken measures to mitigate the effect in the EU countries and assured its customers that it would endeavour to minimize any dislocation and resultant inconvenience that may be caused to them and further assure them that it would continue to provide them safe and reliable air travel.

PIA is currently operating its flights from Pakistan to Italy (Rome and Milan), France (Paris), Holland (Amsterdam), Norway (Oslo), Denmark (Copenhagen), Greece (Athens) and UK (Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow) which would be disrupted while flights for London and Germany (Frankfurt) had already been banned.

Sources said PIA would reschedule its flights before March 8 when restrictions would be implemented. It is likely that PIA would operate its flights via Istanbul.

PIA spokesman said their team led by the Chairman & CEO accompanied by Pakistan’s ambassador in Brussels, the Deputy DG CAA and PIA’s legal advisers held extensive discussions lasting over three hours in the course of which a detailed presentation was made by the chairman, who explained several additional measures that PIA had embarked upon, to make PIA more focused on safety, customer needs, reliability and vision for the future.

This includes fleet modernization, spinning off non-core businesses (such as hotels) and formation of joint ventures with internationally reputable companies for ramp handling, flight kitchen, maintenance, repair, overhaul and engineering (MRO), (the latter being in process of finalization), to name a few, he added.

The EU’s ASC top representatives duly appreciated the efforts of PIA in this context and were at pains to emphasize that PIA’s operations in EU countries are not banned, but only operating restrictions are being temporarily applied, which are aircraft specific (Boeing 747s and Airbus A310s only), to enable PIA carry out certain further measures. This vindicates PIA’s flight standards and allied processes, which facilitate the continued operations of all of its state-of-the-art B777s aircraft, maintained and operated by PIA. Indeed, the chairman pointed out at the meeting that as the facts will show PIA had a better safety record than even certain European Airlines and considered this action of EU discriminatory against PIA, spokesman said and added that PIA gives top priority to air safety and conforms to the requisite maintenance practices and standards for its fleet.

PIA also continues to maintain and service the aircraft of other international operators of different parts of the world including the EU.

PIA’s aircraft are certified for airworthiness by CAA Pakistan, which under Article 33 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention of 1944) shall be recognized as valid by the other contracting states, provided that the requirements under which such certificates or licenses are issued or rendered valid are equal to or above the minimum standards which may be established from time to time, pursuant to the Chicago Convention. PIA not only fulfills that, but is subjected to CAA’s oversight, which itself complies with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and was cleared by ICAO during the last Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (IUSOAP).

Spokesman further said PIA’s Maintenance and Engineering Department is certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). PIA is also currently registered by IATA through its Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), being amongst the 63 airlines out of 300 airlines to have achieved this distinction.

Major PIA departments also have ISO 9000 certification. In this background, PIA’s aircraft are eligible to fly and indeed fly to most parts of the world without any let or hindrance whatsoever. He said European Union (EU) have only a year back (December 2005) introduced certain more stringent air safety criteria for aircraft using airspace of its member countries and have already blacklisted over 100 airlines operators by imposing ban on their operations in the EU countries.

EU’s said Regulations in this context (air safety), are still evolving and its procedures and precedents for evaluation airlines are not widely known, with resultant potential for miscommunications and misperceptions, which has substantially contributed to PIA’s current situation. In the last quarter of 2006, EU raised issues regarding PIA’s certain aircraft, in which respect PIA fully cooperated with EU’s Air Safety Committee (EU’s ASC) and established an action plan with clear milestones duly endorsed by CAA and accepted by EU’s ASC.

PIA made presentations before EU’s ASC in October and November 2006 and February 2007, during which EU’s ASC duly acknowledged the significant further measures that PIA had taken to comply with EU’s more stringent air safety criteria.

Accordingly, the EU action to place restrictions on PIA’s certain aircraft, first reported through the media, came as a total surprise and was clearly not in keeping with the recognized progress that PIA had made to meet EU’s proposed action and on the given facts does not consider it to be justifiable in its application on PIA.

However, recognizing the sovereignty of the EU to determine its regulations for compliance by airline operators in its member countries, PIA without prejudice to its rights, agreed to seek an amicable resolution of the matter. At the end of the meeting, PIA reiterated its commitment and resolve to adhere to the highest flight safety standards and shared with EU’s ASC officials PIA’s determination to work with them for restoration of full operations in the EU countries in the shortest possible time, in which respect they have been assured of EU’s ASC cooperation.

Source: The News

[Bukhari]

There was a query about the outcome of the meeting in Ministry of Defense regarding the PIA-EU crisis, as reported in The News by some Saleh Zaafir.
There was actually no meeting there. Minister Rao Sikandar, Parliamentary secretary Maj Tanvir and even Joint Secretary Aviation didn't now about such a meeting taking place in the ministry.

[BOEING777]

More here:

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=45362

[Bukhari]

PIA fails to convince EU states

By Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD, March 3: Pakistan International Airlines has failed in its last minute efforts to stave off an imminent European Union ban on most of its aircraft.

A statement issued by PIA at the conclusion of meetings with the European Union in Brussels quoted the EU Aircraft Safety Commission as having said that aircraft specific restrictions on B-747s and A-310s are being applied temporarily to enable the airline to carry out remedial measures.

The EU has been asking PIA to rectify these systemic safety deficiencies since October and the two have agreed on an ‘action plan’ with clear milestones and deadlines.

Britain and Germany have already banned PIA aircraft from landing in their countries because of concerns about safety standards.

PIA Chairman Tariq Kirmani and Civil Aviation Authority Deputy Director-General Air Vice-Marshal Mohammad Safdar represented Pakistan in talks with the EU.

Mr Kirmani’s presentation before the Air Safety Commission touched aspects like fleet modernisation, spinning off non-core businesses (such as hotels) and formation of joint ventures with `companies of international repute’.

He termed the restrictions discriminatory and claimed that PIA had much better safety record than major European airlines. However, Mr Kirmani said PIA without prejudice to its rights agreed to adhere to the highest flight safety standards.


Source: Daily Dawn

[Abbas Ali]

News report 'PIA says EU restriction is discrimination' says:

However, even not all B-777s could escape the wrath of Europe as Germany will allow only one aircraft of the series, having registration number AP-BGL, to operate.

Following is clarification posted by forum member CombiFan in topic EASA Audit/SAFA inspections.

actually only BGL documents were available with LBA (Germany) at the time of ban, now all 777 docs have been provided to them and all are cleared.

[mohammad abdulaziz]

Since there many members who are aviation experts, anybody has any idea, what exactly are the deficiencies that PIA needs to rectify and whether they are rectifiable, if yes, how long does this rectification would take – or they are not doable by PIA

[TAILWIND]

May be i am a bit late on this thread. Can anyone clarify?

Is the ban by EU due to vintage of the aircraft or some PIA procedures???? If later was the case, then those (objectionable) procedures apply to 777 as well! And if the ban is due to the vintage, then aren't many european airlines or airlines operating to EU use B743s and A310s?????
Looks there is soething more to all this

[Bukhari]

This is a tale of inefficiency, nepotism and corruption of PIA management. Nothing more. The whole team is bent on destroying this national asset. Proven beyond doubt.

[FMC]

This is a tale of inefficiency, nepotism and corruption of PIA management. Nothing more. The whole team is bent on destroying this national asset. Proven beyond doubt.

it is not that. PIA's misfortune is due to the 80% wrong decisions taken by the CEO and his ManCom.
" Idiots are almost always concieted and talkative."

[Aftab PK786]

Asalamalkium,

Here some more editions on the same story:

British and German authorities have barred around three-quarters of Pakistan International Airlines' ageing fleet from flying to the countries because of safety worries.

But PIA insists it will continue to operate its seven Boeing 777s to both countries.

The airline has been advised by aviation authorities in the UK and Germany that its older aircraft are no longer welcome.

But PIA says it has a better safety record than some major European airlines and claims it is being discriminated against.

In a statement the company said that "operating restrictions are being temporarily applied" while it brings some long haul aircraft in its 42-plane fleet up to standard.

The EU had already decided to bar all PIA planes except the Boeing 777s, and other countries in the 27-nation group are expected to follow the action of Britain and Germany.

The EU's concerns focus on maintenance problems and old aircraft, specifically Boeing 747s and Airbus 310s.

The state-run airline was warned last year that most of its planes failed to meet international standards, although it said the EU's decision had come as a surprise.

PIA operates 26 flights a week to Europe. Its most profitable routes are to the Middle East and Britain.

Source: http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,, ... 20,00.html

[DC10]

PIA must admit that only AP-BGL is allowed from the B-777 fleet. Why? Because this God forsaken plane has had numerous landing gear fire incidents at MAN and had twice shed it's pylon panels at MAN again. The seepage of Skydrol was routine.
Aircraft ageing is no excuse for PIA's and CAA's incompetency. It is interesting to note that Kirmani and Farooq Rehmatullah have always, are and will remain on the same cut channel till the accomplishment of their mission.

[ConnieMan]

Just found this on Airliners.net...

http://www.airliners.net/discussions/ge ... n/3288328/

[Adnan Anwar]

Just found this on Airliners.net...

http://www.airliners.net/discussions/ge ... n/3288328/

I get the folllowing error

"Sorry, the post you are trying read does not exist (could have been deleted or you followed a faulty link). Click here to return to the forum "

[Max]

PIA to buy airbuses to appease EU, UK

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is understood to have effectively conveyed to both the European Union and the UK air-safety authorities that it is willing to replace its Boeing 737s with the latest European aircraft for EU and UK destinations, according to well-placed airline and government sources.

The sources told Daily Times that PIA had told the EU and UK authorities that most of the Boeing 737s (PIA has a fleet of seven) could be replaced with European-made aircraft – also known as airbuses – and the process for this purpose could begin as early as July.

Asked how this message was conveyed to the EU and UK authorities, the sources said that this communication had taken place through “informal” channels – indicating that lobbyists of European products in Pakistan, Brussels and London had been used as a conduit.

Asked if the EU safety committee had asked PIA to replace its old aircraft with those made in Europe, they said that such messages were never delivered formally. “As they say actions speak louder than words, the EU in particular had been effectively sending message since the news about a looming ban on the PIA fleet broke out last month,” they said. They said that PIA had decided to buy airbuses to use as a bargaining chip to minimise the impact of pressure in the form of “temporary restrictions” on its fleet.

Asked if PIA would replace all seven Boeing 737s, the sources would only say that such a move could affect the country’s relations with the manufacturers of Boeings and US government. “Therefore there is a need to strike a delicate balance.” They said that a lot of official procedural formalities would need to be put in place before any order to purchase airbuses could be formally put forward. staff report


http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.as ... 2007_pg1_8