PIA jets banned after fires

[pkjet]

Embarrassing to say the least and all round Manchester yesterday within hours of the paper going to print.

The actual picture used in the paper was a B777LR (BGY) and not a Combi as per this link :

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... fires.html

Dean Kirby
9/ 3/2007

AN airline which has had five separate fires on jets landing at Manchester Airport has been blacklisted.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been told by Europe's aviation safety chiefs that it can use only seven of its 37 aircraft on flights to European Union member states.

The curb, announced this week by the European Commission, follows a series of inspections of the airline's operations and maintenance in Pakistan.

It means PIA, whose name has now been placed on the list of banned or restricted airlines, can use only its Boeing 777s.

A spokesman for the European Commission said concerns had been raised over `safety management' by the airline.

The EU's Air Safety Committee made the decision after the airline failed to address concerns outlined in an action plan.

Manchester Airport is PIA's biggest base outside Pakistan. The airline's older Boeing 747s have not been seen here for some time. PIA was criticised a year ago after an investigation into five separate fires on jets landing in Manchester.

Inspectors from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch raised concerns over maintenance procedures in Pakistan.

More than 300 passengers had to be evacuated from a PIA plane following the most serious fire on the ground in 2005.

A PIA jet was also grounded at the airport in October after a cat escaped in the cabin. Another jet was grounded last month after one of its wings clipped the tail of another aircraft on a taxiway area.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport confirmed an EU-wide operating restriction had been placed on PIA. He said the decision was made in response to `systematic problems' in PIA's maintenance of its older aircraft.

Britain has already imposed the restriction `on the grounds of protecting our citizens'. An airport spokesman said: "PIA has operated an important network of routes from the airport for many years. We accept the Department for Transport's decision. In the meantime, PIA continues to operate Boeing 777s between Manchester and several international destinations

[DEZI]

It is now crystal clear that TK and his band of merry men have conciously grounded the PIA jumbo jets so as to project a billion dollar loss due to suspension of flights. Aga Khan being the front line creditor is flexing his wings to pounce down upon the carcasse of PIA.