ICAO advises Pakistan to strengthen its pilot licensing system
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has advised
Pakistan to take immediate corrective actions and suspend the issuance of new
pilot licenses following a scandal involving falsified licenses, as revealed by
an official statement and a document reviewed by Reuters.
ICAO, a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for ensuring
safety in international air transport, emphasized the need for Pakistan to
enhance and strengthen its licensing system. The organization urged Pakistan to
implement robust processes and procedures to prevent inconsistencies and
malpractices before issuing new licenses and reinstating privileges of
suspended licenses.
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In response to the scandal, Pakistani authorities disclosed that
no new licenses have been issued since July. The recommendations from ICAO
precede an upcoming audit scheduled to evaluate Pakistan's aviation safety
management systems, which has been rescheduled from November to June, granting
the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) additional time for reforms.
While a PCAA spokesman declined to comment on the matter, an ICAO
representative stated that the organization is assisting Pakistan in addressing
concerns and would notify other countries if swift action is not taken.
The pilot scandal has cast a shadow over Pakistan's aviation
industry and adversely affected its national carrier, Pakistan International
Airlines (PIA), resulting in restrictions on its operations in Europe and the
United States. As part of the response to the scandal, Pakistan has revoked the
licenses of 50 pilots and suspended an additional 32 pilots for one year.
Source: Yahoo News