US aviation team to visit Pakistan next month to decide resumption of PIA flights to the US
A five-member team from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to visit Pakistan in mid-April to evaluate Pakistan International Airlines' (PIA) readiness to resume direct flights to the United States, as reported by media sources.
The visit will focus on assessing
PIA's operations and determining if the airline can be upgraded from Category
II to Category I, a move that would restore full access to US airspace.
After resuming flight services to
the European Union (EU) in January and initiating discussions with the United
Kingdom (UK) about resuming operations, PIA is now focused on obtaining
clearance from US aviation authorities.
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An MoU has been signed, and $75,000
has been allocated for consultancy services to assist in the category upgrade.
PIA's operations to the EU, UK, and
US were suspended in July 2020 following allegations by former aviation
minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan about improperly issued flying licenses, which
resulted in the suspension of the airline’s international flights.
Before the suspension, PIA operated
six weekly flights to the US, including routes to New York and Chicago. During
the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline was granted special permission to operate
chartered flights.
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In a separate development, PIA has
issued a directive prohibiting photography and videography during aircraft
maintenance. The airline has raised concerns about unauthorized images and
videos, citing potential security risks and confidentiality breaches. Only
authorized personnel, such as aircraft engineers or designated security staff,
are permitted to capture such media. Violations of this policy will result in
strict disciplinary action to ensure the safety and confidentiality of its
operations.
Source: Profit Pakistan