Restrictions on PIA might be lifted after ICAO audit in July
Pakistan International Airlines
(PIA) is expected to resume flight operations to the United Kingdom, European
Union, and the United States after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) clears an
upcoming audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), scheduled
for July 5, according to a CAA spokesperson.
The United Nations specialized
agency, ICAO works to ensure global air transport safety. Its audit of the CAA
will determine whether Pakistan’s aviation regulator meets international safety
standards—a prerequisite for lifting the international flight ban imposed on
PIA.
Pakistan’s aviation sector came
under intense scrutiny last year after a PIA jet crashed in Karachi, killing 97
people. Investigations into the crash revealed that the pilots failed to follow
standard procedures, and the cockpit voice recorder suggested they were
distracted by discussions unrelated to the flight, including the COVID-19
outbreak.
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The crash triggered a broader scandal after authorities uncovered that hundreds of Pakistani pilots held fraudulently obtained licenses. In response, criminal investigations were launched against 50 pilots and at least five CAA officials implicated in facilitating the issuance of fake credentials.
The scandal severely damaged
Pakistan’s global aviation credibility, leading to flight bans on PIA from
multiple regions, including Europe and the U.S., after 262 pilots were found to
possess "dubious" licenses.
Speaking to Arab News, CAA
spokesperson Saad bin Ayub confirmed that preparations were underway for the
ICAO audit and expressed optimism about a favorable outcome:
“We are preparing for the ICAO audit
from all aspects and are hopeful to clear it.”
While PIA has already secured operational
clearance from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the next
two years, it still cannot resume long-haul international routes until the CAA
passes the ICAO audit.
Read More UK keeps ban on Pakistani airlines
“We have passed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) for the next two years,” said PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan, “but we still can’t resume our flight operations until the Civil Aviation Authority clears the ICAO audit.”
The IATA IOSA audit, completed in October,
involves a detailed review of airline safety protocols and is conducted every
two years for member carriers.
“The scrutiny of our operations
intensified after the plane crash and the pilot license scandal,” Khan added.
“We are waiting on the CAA’s audit clearance to restore flights to the UK, EU,
and U.S.”
Officials also acknowledged that the
CAA’s ICAO audit has been repeatedly postponed since 2009, citing reasons such
as manpower shortages and limited regulatory expertise. ICAO, however, has now
made it clear that the CAA must undergo a full audit of its licensing,
airworthiness, regulatory oversight, and flight standards before any further
international operations can be sanctioned.
Source: Arab News