Japan, Singapore, HK follow in EU footsteps

[Abbas Ali]

KARACHI: A new development added to the woes of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) – already reeling from a partial European Union ban on its fleet – as three Asian countries on Tuesday followed in the footsteps of European countries by objecting to the airline’s Boeing 747s and Airbus A310s.

Sources told Daily Times that Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore had expressed concern over PIA’s safety standards because of the European Union ban. “The three Asian countries’ concerns ostensibly emanated from the findings of the EU and UK air safety authorities on PIA’s fleet,” the sources told Daily Times. They said the airline’s representatives at the Asian destinations had been approached by the three countries’ officials, as they were keen to know what led to the EU restrictions.

“We immediately allowed the Hong Kong and Singaporean authorities to carry out an inspection of our planes, and find out to their own satisfaction whether the airline was conforming with international safety standards or not,” they said, adding that a Boeing 747 in Hong Kong and an Airbus A310 in Singapore were given a “clean chit” by the air safety authorities of those countries following an investigation on Tuesday.

The inspection of another A310 was expected on Thursday, when the aircraft would fly to Tokyo, they said. The sources told Daily Times that most of the findings of the EU and UK air safety authorities had suggested a lack of professionalism on the part of PIA and CAA, as none of the areas highlighted by the EU and the UK required extraordinary efforts.

“For example, the UK and EU had on several occasions asked the airline’s cockpit crew to carry their licence documents in the shape of plastic-laminated cards, but the CAA, which is responsible for issuing licences, still does not issue these documents like that,” they added. They said that Pakistani authorities had not tried to adopt the procedures and formats being followed in European countries. They said the airline had also been accused of poor maintenance of its suitcase containers.

The sources said that the presence of wet carpets near toilets had been identified as one of the poorest maintained areas of an aircraft by the European authorities. PIA accuses passengers of Pakistani-origin of showering in toilets. The airline’s pilots have also not been observing European guidelines on the use of eyeglasses. The sources said the EU and UK air safety authorities also observed that paint on some of the aircraft had started to peel off. A panel of British lawyers advised Pakistan to address the grey areas the EU and UK had identified, to resolve the matter in three to four months, they added.

APP adds: Separately, PIA Chairman Tariq Kirmani said on Wednesday that the airline had decided to improve flight safety by refurbishing its existing fleet and acquiring new planes on lease. He told Geo News that the second phase of the process to upgrade PIA’s fleet would be launched from March 28.

Source: Daily Times

[behramjee]

PIA accuses passengers of Pakistani-origin of showering in toilets.

unfortunately this is true and has been reported by many pax especially on the PAK-LHR sector.

simple way to resolve this is to make an announcement before departure whilst taxing that no showers are permitted to be taken in the washroom and if caught then a penalty of RS 10,000 will be strictly enforced or return sector tkt cancelled or jail time (blank threat to make ppl scared). this is the only way ppl will learn!!!

[Adnan Anwar]

PIA accuses passengers of Pakistani-origin of showering in toilets.

unfortunately this is true and has been reported by many pax especially on the PAK-LHR sector.

simple way to resolve this is to make an announcement before departure whilst taxing that no showers are permitted to be taken in the washroom and if caught then a penalty of RS 10,000 will be strictly enforced or return sector tkt cancelled or jail time (blank threat to make ppl scared). this is the only way ppl will learn!!!

They should do what airfrance did to one passenger who was dragged by crew for smoking in the lavatory in front of everyone.

[zerbaer]

They should do what airfrance did to one passenger who was dragged by crew for smoking in the lavatory in front of everyone.
_________________
Adnan Anwar

With the same token what do you recommend for those who 'till today continue to drag it all deeper into the gutter. as warm up they could be slapped publicly in their places of work.

[DC10]

They should do what airfrance did to one passenger who was dragged by crew for smoking in the lavatory in front of everyone.
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Adnan Anwar

With the same token what do you recommend for those who 'till today continue to drag it all deeper into the gutter. as warm up they could be slapped publicly in their places of work.

zerbaer, I AGREE.

[FMC]

zerbaer! i second your recommendation.

[Cobra]

ZERBAER. count me in . I third your comments.
'It is not the thief who is hanged, but one who was caught stealing.'

[Viscount]

PIA accuses passengers of Pakistani-origin of showering in toilets.

unfortunately this is true and has been reported by many pax especially on the PAK-LHR sector.

They should do what airfrance did to one passenger who was dragged by crew for smoking in the lavatory in front of everyone.

If PIA has provided shower heads in its aeroplane toilets then what is the problem? I think it is time that the sitting PIA management and all their 'chamchaas' be penalised for bringing shame to PIA. An authentic statement by a responsible official goes like this;
'' The plane toilets are designed for passengers who take burger meals and use toilet roll for wiping.''
Conclusion : Work is achieved by those employees who have not yet reached their level of incompetence.

[pkjet]

Whilst this whole safety issue is a mountain being created out of a molehill and at the same time is exactly the kick on the rear end that PIA needs to wake up and become a more efficient organisation, I think the whole shower thing is ridiculous.

I can only assume it refers to people washing their privates with a small plastic cup as the airline doesn't provide a big enough container...I mean would it cost a lot to put a plastic lota in the loos ????

[PK777]

This is getting very serious for PIA, the govt should not blame the current head of PIA for all these bans they all need to wake up and smell the coffee - PIA needs to be privatised/sold off to a private airline that will make it more efficient, convienent and more relaible! The entire fleet needs to be either sold off and replace by more efficient aicraft. The maintenance needs to be overhauled to international standards - I didnt expect the maintenance to be that leneant to repair aircraft with duck tape! The maintenance staff have recieved so many awards for efficient and relaible work - how come now we are finding out they are all a bunch of morons???