EU set to ban most PIA Planes

[ali_khan]

Hi Mike,

I hope you are enjoying the warm weather down in Australia while I am in Canada freezing

man, you are right, I got carried away there. Instead I think that this is a major wake up call for PIA and such problems should be fixed with sincerity (and maintained) if they want to become a reputable airline.

[zerbaer]

PIA may get partial ban on flights to Europe

Hammad in Cologne & Amraiz Khan in Lahore
LAHORE - Swallowing the insult to their professional competence by a partial EU ban, PIA and the CAAP may fail to overcome their latest crisis because their managements stick to denial, as if nothing has happened.
PIA is in danger of being lumped together with 50 airlines from the Congo, and others from Kazakhstan, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, North Korea and Afghanistan, unless it defends itself in its latest brush with the EU, following warnings in October.
The European Aviation Safety Agency became operational in 2003, on the basis of a European Parliament and Council resolution (1592/2002), as an independent EU body under European Law, accountable to member states and EU institutions. It is based in Cologne Germany and has developed strong working relationships with counterparts across the world, including ICAO, FAA and the aviation authorities of Canada, Brazil, China, Russia and Israel. The agency has recruited highly qualified specialists to consolidate its authority as centre of excellence in aviation safety. On 16 May 2006, a regulation implementing Directive 2004/36/EC of European Parliament and Council authorised it for assessment of foreign aircrafts using community airports. Any decision of EASA is pursuant to Article 35 of Regulation 1952/2002, whereby an appeal can be brought against decisions of the agency, taken for Airworthiness and Environmental Certification.
In October 2006, EASA gave a mild warning cautioning PIA to improve their documentation, maintenance, compliance with mandatory safety procedures and environmental issues relating to fuel spillages while refuelling at European airports, following inspections of their aircrafts at London, Manchester, Frankfurt, Milan, Oslo etc. Inspections had revealed bad maintenance practices and non-compliance with procedures laid down for proper rectification. They pointed out serious lapses in the ability of CAA Pakistan to carry out professional assessment of aircraft under its jurisdiction, because it did not have qualified personnel on types of commercial aircrafts in use, nor conversant with regulatory rules and observance of ICAO, JAA and FAA regulations. It also pointed out lapses in professional ethics, whereby inspectors of CAA are not expected to get remuneration or perks from airlines that they inspect.
These inspections related to review of an aircraft maintenance record, and did not involve detailed inspection of an aircraft. There are airlines that continue to fly into Europe without any censure, using the same type of aircrafts in use by PIA, like A-310s, Boeing 747 Classics and even A300s. EASA only monitors compliance with laid down minimum specifications of safety and maintenance procedures. The problem of both PIA and CAA is their failure to comprehend the basic issues. Perhaps the fact that most of senior executives do not have sufficient experience in commercial aviation, which is a highly regulated service oriented industry, has put the national airline into a problem, which if tackled properly, could have taken it out of troubled waters. The airlines in-house safety audit functions normally carried out by their safety department, if performed professionally could have saved PIA from being reprimanded by routine inspections carried out at all airports by respective regulatory bodies. PIA today has an engineering SVP, who has no experience of working in a regulated commercial aviation industry.
In February 2007, a three-man team from EASA came to inspect CAA Pakistan with mutual consent. They also inspected PIA, which is the only airline regulated by CAA Pakistan, and flies to Europe. According to report submitted by SAFA, the inspections reveal that satisfactory remedial measures were not undertaken to improve lapses pointed out in October 2006. The European Aviation Blacklist is based on results of checks at European airports, which “monitor use of poorly maintained aircrafts; the inability of the airlines involved to rectify the identified shortcomings during inspections; and the inability of the authority responsible for overseeing the airline to perform its task,” in this case Pakistan CAA. The EC only imposes a complete or partial ban on an airline after a case-by-case analysis following ASC consultations. If a banned airline believes it has since achieved safety standard compliance, it can contact the EC or a member state, either directly or through its civil aviation authority. The EC will take a decision based on an ASC assessment. Every ban must comply with right of defence and can be done quickly in urgent cases. An airline under review can “express its case, submit comments in writing, and add new items to their file, and ask to be heard by the EC or to attend a hearing before the ASC. They may be assisted by their own supervisory CAA”.
Banned airlines can still sell tickets under their name and using their own code. But the flights must be operated by aircraft and staff belonging to airlines that are deemed to be safe. Under existing regulations, it is compulsory to inform passengers which airline will operate the flight”. Safety Assessment of foreign airlines was started under pressure to create a binding EU BLACKLIST, after the Flash Airlines Boeing 737-300 crash at Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt in Jan 2004, which killed 134 French holidaymakers. Calls for action increased when Turkish carrier ONUSA AIR banned from Dutch airspace, was flying Dutch tourists to and from Belgium, simply by bussing them across the border.
The EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot has barred 91 airlines, which include 50 carriers from Congo and others from Kazakhistan, Equatorial Guniea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Swaziland. This ban also includes Air Koryo of Democratic republic of Korea and Ariana Afghan Airlines of Afghanistan.
It is indeed very embarrassing and insulting for an airline like PIA, to be even reprimanded or cautioned by EASA. Both PIA and CAA officials are in a state of denial, which will only further complicate matters.
The crisis has already been mishandled by both organisations. In the case of PIA the onus falls on Engineering, Flight Safety and to some extent on Flight Operations. Another aspect that invites hostility of European governments, is the failure of immigration to check illegal immigration on bogus documents from Islamabad and Karachi airports, by influential travel agents with links in Gujrat and Karachi.
The federal government as a major shareholder has to act in the national interest, without any further delay or submitting to political pressures. It is time to consider moving executive offices of PIA and CAA to Islamabad, for closer scrutiny, free from the politicised headquarters of both these organisations, where key appointments and commercial interests are being compromised.
However, that is in the long run. Immediately, PIA needs to focus all its resources for maintenance of aircrafts by eliminating revenue pilferage, extra fuel consumption on positioning flights, with fuel burdening airlines operating expenditures. An airline of repute with an international flight schedule cannot afford to cut cost of maintenance and delays in technical part procurement, which compromise minimum safety standards. PIA has the potential market base of loyal ethnic Pakistanis, to earn enough revenues, so as to break-even or make nominal profits, provided it cuts irrelevant expenditures.

[hasan saleem]

Restrictions force PIA to suspend Frankfurt flight


ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: Germany on Tuesday asked Pakistan International Airlines to stop flying most of its aircraft to German Airports, almost a week before the European Union takes a final decision about a ban being contemplated by the EU on the airline.

German authorities have asked PIA management to operate only Boeing 777 aircraft in and out of Germany, the airline’s spokesman confirmed on Tuesday.

PIA, which operates two flights to Frankfurt from Islamabad and one each from Peshawar and Lahore using A-310 carriers, appears to have been caught unprepared.
PK 761, which was to fly from Islamabad to Frankfurt on Tuesday was instead flown to Istanbul after the German decision and passengers were transferred to another airline for carrying them onwards to Frankfurt.

The EU plans to ban all but seven aircraft in PIA fleet because of safety concern, with the recently acquired Boeing 777s escaping the restrictions.

PIA had been on EU watch-list since September 2006, which had asked the airline to undertake a remedial plan for addressing the systemic safety deficiencies within the given deadline.

An EU delegation led by Federico Grandini, European Commission’s Air Safety Administrator, had visited Pakistan earlier this month to assess the remedial measures and had spoken to both Civil Aviation Authority and PIA on the issue. The meeting was followed by CAA and PIA officials visit to Brussels, but failed to convince the EU officials.

The basic objections of EU pertain to absence of a proper quality control system in the airline and its failure to rectify the faults that had been identified earlier.

Mr Grandini had told Dawn from Brussels that the findings had been sent to the commission which will take a formal decision only after consultation of the European Parliament in about 10 days.

However, the German authorities imposed the restrictions much earlier than a final decision by the EU. No explanations have been given by German authorities.


Source: Dawn

PIA has twice weekly Islamabad-Frankfurt via Istanbul and once weekly Lahore-Amsterdam-Frankfurt-Lahore all three flights with 310

[awasi]

Well if you look at the hiring practices at PIA, for the last 15 - 20 years, this is not surprising. Most of the engineers, managers that were hired in the 50's , 60 and 70's have retired, and corrupt, inept people were hired starting in mid 80's (thanx to Gen. Zia ul Haq). PIA has been mismanaged so grossly, that the only way out is to sell it. It is a pain to see PIA drop to this level in world aviation.

[zerbaer]

Not in this shape. It 'll be out of the frying pan into the fire. Normally you clean up & not destroy prior to sale, unless it is a bigger scam.

[Viscount]

O, what a tangled web we weave, / when first we practise to deceive.

[CoyBoy]

O, what a tangled web we weave, / when first we practise to deceive.

Beautifully put.

[Suleman]

PIA team rushes to Brussels

BRUSSELS: A high-level PIA delegation, led by Chairman Tariq Kirmani, arrived here on Wednesday for talks aimed at addressing the EU’s concerns over flight safety and standards in the airline. This step has been taken after the German authorities refused to grant landing permission to a Frankfurt-bound Airbus A 310 flight from Islamabad.

Earlier, the Federal Republic of Germany has cast the first stone against the Pakistan International Airlines by banning its Airbus A310 and Boeing 747 aircraft from landing in Frankfurt.

The ban forced PIA to cancel its flight PK761 on Monday from Islamabad to Frankfurt via Istanbul and back via the same route, Daily Times reported quoted PIA sources yesterday.

The reported ban comes soon after last week's intensive negotiations between the PIA and the European Union Air Safety Commission (ASC) in Brussels after which PIA officials claimed that no restrictions would be imposed on PIA flights in European capitals.

The commission was earlier reported to have threatened action to stop flights of all but seven newly inducted Being 777 in the 42 aircraft fleet of the airliner because of maintenance and crew problems.

Both CAA and PIA maintain that unless they receive specific instructions in writing from EU aviation regulators it would not be wise to speculate or make any decision on this issue.

[legalize]

What is the latest news? How will this ban affect uk flights?

[zerbaer]

The Nation 1-3-07

PIA reviews statements attributed to EU

KARACHI (PR) - In connection with the recently published news-items citing EU sources that it has plans to ban some of the PIA flight operations, PIA on Wednesday issued a press release reviewing the statements attributed to EU.
It said that, “This concerns a series of news items appearing in a section of press quoting undisclosed EU sources from Brussels stating that EU plans to disallow some of PIA flight operations to EU destinations in view of certain technical concerns - neither cogently cited nor authentically presented. For information of our valued readers, factual operational position is detailed below:
PIA to date has received nothing in writing from European Union concerning any reported discontinuation of permission for PIA aircrafts operations to European destinations. Relevantly mentioned, PIA continues to be engaged in with European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency on all operational and professional issues concerning Aviation Industry in Asian Countries. PIA currently is included in the European Union’s list as Safer Asian Aviation counterpart airline conforming to the maximum of all International Safety Standards.
PIA’s Technical Consultations with EU counterparts are a continuous process and part of our round the clock professional exercise to maximise observance of International Safety Code, and the Airline satisfactorily is meeting all International Aviation Standards. PIA’s maintenance has been certified by IATA in terms of meeting all safety standards codified in user’s manuals.
To recapitulate PIA’s history of meeting international safety standards, PIA Engineering & Maintenance department applied for JAR-145 Approval to Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) in the year 2002. Joint Aviation Authorities nominated GSAC (France) as Approval awarding Authority subject to successful audits of PIA Engineering & Maintenance department.
During 2003-2004, JAA was transformed into an autonomous body, named as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). As a result of positive recommendation from GSAC (France), the ‘EASA Part-145 Approval was granted to PIA Engineering & Maintenance department in April 2004. By virtue of this Approval, PIA Engineering & Maintenance department is authorised to perform maintenance on European registered aircraft as ‘EASA Part-145 Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO)’.
Since April 2004 to March 2006, GSAC (France) auditors performed five surveillance audits of Engineering & Maintenance department to ensure continued validity of the subject Approval. In February 2006, the surveillance audit was also declared as the ‘Re-certification Audit’ and the recommendations by GSAC (France) resulted in the revalidation of the EASA Part-145 Approval upto 15th April 2008.
PIA is one of the largest foreign airlines serving the EU destinations, besides operating to important destinations in the North America, Gulf, Saudi Arabia and the Far East. PIA’s aircraft are safe and properly maintained. The recent visit of EC’s Air Safety Committee to Pakistan during 12 - 16 February 2007 culminated in a series of technical consultations with PIA management and mainly centred around technical upkeep, airworthiness and well kept interior of aircraft operating on European destinations.
The Committee expressed satisfaction over PIA aircraft’ operational and professional issues. It was followed by another meeting in Brussels during 21 - 23 February 2007.
Pakistan was represented by professional and technical experts from PIA and CAA wherein they put forth a range of operational data before Air Safety Committee of European Union to their satisfaction in terms of PIAC aircraft technical fitness, airworthiness and other cabin specific up keep/maintenance issues. The committee appreciated PIAC’s efforts towards maximisation of its aircraft excellent maintenance standards and airworthiness. The committee however counselled the airline to modernise its fleet according to latest technological advancement reached in aviation industry. Necessary refurbishment of PIAC’s old aircraft is also in the pipeline as per EU standards.
As national carrier PIA currently is up-to-date with the safety audit conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a body representing several hundred airlines around the world. “Pakistan International Airlines is IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certified until June 24, 2007”. Moreover, PIA has always measured up to EU regulatory, certification, maintenance & standardisation, environmental protection and rule making requirements in the interest of global safety concerns and standards.
Going by EU press release of 12.10.2006 a couple of airlines of various countries (Thailand, DPRK Korea, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Swaziland, and Bangladesh) were occasionally disallowed for some of its flight operations to European Union destinations until they met necessary regulatory certifications from European Aviation Safety Agency. Hence recently reported EU statement disallowing some of PIA aircraft flight operations to EU destinations for want of necessary exterior and interior refurbishment (not airworthiness and technical up keep) is nothing new in “world aviation industry”.
PIA as national flag carrier expects national press to act responsibly and verify the authenticity of overseas sources before running a sensitive news item that could negatively impact both, the public interest and morale”.
Amraiz Khan from Lahore adds: PIA Chairman Syed Tariq Kirmani has left for Brussels to hold talks with the European Union authorities on the issue of a partial ban on PIA flights by EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Sources in the Civil Aviation Authority confided to The Nation here on Wednesday.
Senior CAA officials, including Deputy Director General Muhammad Safdar Khan, senior PIA officials from Engineering department and officers from other departments concerned accompanied the PIA Chairman.
The delegation will stay in Brussels for about a week and Tariq Kirmani will probably try to obtain extension in time from the EASA for the up-gradation of PIA fleet, the sources added.

[Abbas Ali]

Nothing in writing from EU so far: PIA

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced Wednesday that it

had received “nothing in writing” from European Union concerning any reported discontinuation of permission for PIA aircraft operations to European destinations. According to a PIA press release, the national airline continues to be engaged in with European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency on all operational and professional issues concerning aviation industry in Asian Countries.

"PIA currently is included in the European Union’s list as Safer Asian Aviation counterpart airline conforming to the maximum of all International," the press release said. The airline said, among other things, that it was one of the largest foreign airlines serving the EU destinations, besides operating to important destinations in the North America, Gulf, Saudi Arabia and the Far East.

"PIA’s aircraft are safe and properly maintained. The recent visit of EC’s Air Safety Committee to Pakistan during 12 – 16 February 2007 culminated in a series of technical consultations with PIA management and mainly centered around technical upkeep, airworthiness and well kept interior of aircraft operating on European destinations," according to the press release.

Source: Daily Times

[flyingsystem]

DATE: 01/03/07
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com

Pakistan International Airlines looks to swap Boeing 777s to European routes as EU blacklist extends to all its 747s and A310s

The European Union looks set to place a ban on 33 of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) fleet this week, including the airline's Boeing 747s and Airbus A310-300s, leaving it only 777s to operate into Europe.

The EU's aviation safety officials are finalising additions to the black list of aircraft banned from EU airports and it is understood that the entire PIA fleet, with the exception of its seven 777s will not be allowed to operate into Europe. The airline currently uses its 777s for routes to North America and so disruptions on both European and North American services are expected.

The reason for the ban is said to be a failure to guarantee EU aviation safety standards. The Pakistani high commission in London informed PIA's headquarters in Karachi on Friday of the imminent ban which is to take place from 8 March.

“We have been told that except for the PIA fleet's seven Boeing 777s, all other aircraft will not be allowed to operate in the EU bloc after 8 March,” PIA sources told the Pakistani daily newspaper Daily Timeswhile describing the EU’s reported move as “shocking and confusing.”

This comes as another blow to PIA as their entire 747 fleet was banned from the EU late last year. They managed to bring two of their eight 747s to meet the required safety criteria, and were operating into Europe.

On Saturday a senior PIA official described the EU decision as "a surprise", but said steps would be taken to keep services to Europe running. PIA is expected to wet lease replacement aircraft shortly.

PIA is due for delivery a 777-200ER aircraft on lease from ILFC shortly. PIA's 777 fleet currently consists of two 777-300ERs, three 777-200ERs and two 777-200LRs which are used on non-stop flights to Toronto from Pakistan.

Btw, very interesting article zerbaer ... if this article is right, then I don't understand the "real" problem...

[Abbas Ali]

PIA reviews statements attributed to EU

KARACHI (March 01 2007): This concerns a series of news items appearing in a section of press quoting undisclosed EU sources from Brussels stating that EU plans to disallow some of PIA flight operations to EU destinations in view of certain technical concerns - neither cogently cited nor authentically presented.

For information of our valued readers, factual operational position is detailed. PIAC to date has received nothing in writing from European Union concerning any reported discontinuation of permission for PIA aircraft operations to European destinations. Relevantly mentioned, PIA continues to be engaged in with European Union's Aviation Safety Agency on all operational and professional issues concerning Aviation Industry in Asian Countries, PIA currently is included in the European Union's list as Safer Asian Aviation counterpart airline conforming to the maximum of all International Safety Standards.

PIA's technical consultations with EU counterparts are a continuous process and part of our round the clock professional exercise to maximise observance of International Safety Code, and the Airline satisfactorily is meeting all international aviation standards.

PIA's maintenance has been certified by IATA in terms of meeting all safety standards codified in user's manuals. To recapitulate PIA's history of meeting international safety standards, PIA Engineering & Maintenance department applied for JAR-145 Approval to Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) in the year 2002. Joint Aviation Authorities nominated GSAC (France) as approval awarding authority subject to successful audits of PIA Engineering & Maintenance department.

During 2003-2004, JAA was transformed into an autonomous body, named as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). As a result of positive recommendation from OSAC (France), the 'EASA Part-145 approval was granted to PIA Engineering & Maintenance department in April 2004.

By virtue of this approval, PIA Engineering & Maintenance department is authorised to perform maintenance on European registered aircraft as 'EASA Part-145 Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO)'.

Since April 2004 to March 2006, GSAC (France) auditors performed five surveillance audits of Engineering & Maintenance department to ensure continued validity of the subject approval.

In February 2006, the surveillance audit was also declared as the 'Re-certification Audit' and the recommendations by GSAC (France) resulted in the revalidation of the EASA Part-145 approval up to 15th April 2008.

PIA is one of the largest foreign airlines serving the EU destinations, besides operating to important destinations in the North America, Gulf, Saudi Arabia and the Far East. PIA's aircraft are safe and properly maintained.

The recent visit of EC's Air Safety Committee to Pakistan during 12-16 February 2007 culminated in a series of technical consultations with PIA management and mainly centred around technical upkeep, airworthiness and well kept interior of aircraft operating on European destinations.

The committee expressed satisfaction over PIA aircraft' operational and professional issues. It was followed by another meeting in Brussels during 21-23 February 2007.

Pakistan was represented by professional and technical experts from PIA and CAA wherein they put forth a range of operational data before Air Safety Committee of European Union to their satisfaction in terms of PIAC aircraft technical fitness, airworthiness and other cabin specific up keep/maintenance issues.

The committee appreciated PIAC's efforts towards maximisation of its aircraft excellent maintenance standards and airworthiness. The committee, however, counselled the airline to modernise its fleet according to latest technological advancement reached in aviation industry. Necessary refurbishment of PIAC's old aircraft is also in the pipeline as per EU standards.

As national carrier PIA currently is up-to-date with the safety audit conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a body representing several hundred airlines around the world.

"Pakistan International Airlines is IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certified until June 24, 2007." Moreover, PIA has always measured up to EU regulatory, certification, maintenance & standardisation, environmental protection and rule making requirements in the interest of global safety concerns and standards.

Going by EU press release of 12.10.2006 a couple of airlines of various countries (Thailand, DPRK Korea, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Swaziland, and Bangladesh) were occasionally disallowed for some of its flight operations to European Union destinations until they met necessary regulatory certifications from European Aviation Safety Agency.

Hence recently reported EU statement disallowing some of PIA aircraft flight operations to EU destinations for want of necessary exterior and interior refurbishment (not airworthiness and technical up keep) is nothing new in "world aviation industry". PIA as national flag carrier expects national press to act responsibly and verify the authenticity of overseas sources before running a sensitive news item that could negatively impact both, the public interest and morale - PIA Public Relations

Source: Business Recorder

[F27]

PIA would be allowed B747 operations into EC with some conditions. They will come to llight once the PIA operations to the EU are normalised.

[zerbaer]

There shouldn't be a problem of this nature to begin with. The essential problem, I think, is the continuous lies. For the longest time PIA has maintained & continue to do so publicly, that there is no problem except 'cosmetic minor issues' relating to the interior 'cleanliness & upkeep'. But that isn't a safety/airworthiness issue, is it. Here is what the EC Journal noted last October:

(43) The Commission has asked Pakistan International
Airlines to provide evidence of an adequate remedial
action plan intended to address its systemic safety deficiencies
within strict deadlines. Furthermore, the
competent authorities of Pakistan have announced the
establishment of an action plan to reinforce their
surveillance activities on the carrier which must be
urgently submitted to the Commission.
(44) Pending the submission of the above mentioned plans
within the indicated deadlines and the formal endorsement
of such plan by the Pakistani authorities, the
Commission considers that, at this stage, Pakistan International
Airlines should not be included in the
Community list. However the Commission will take
appropriate action, if necessary under Article 5(1) of
the basic Regulation, in the event that the above
mentioned plans are not delivered in due time or are
judged insufficient. In addition, the Member States
intend to ensure further verification of effective
compliance with the relevant safety standards through
systematic ramp inspections on this carrier.

... And PK's own de-brief on the recent SAFA visit to CAA, which surely is in addition to what has formally been communicated to PIA & CAA as outcome of various ramp inspection, only mentions the cleanliness in passing & isn't noted as a safety violation.