FAA completes safety review of Pakistan aviation, decision pending
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has
completed a weeklong safety audit of Pakistan’s aviation oversight in Karachi,
the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) announced on Friday. The outcome
will be crucial in determining whether direct flights between Pakistan and the
US can resume after a five-year suspension.
The FAA team assessed Pakistan’s legal, regulatory, and
operational aviation frameworks in collaboration with the PCAA. The findings
will now be reviewed in Washington before a final decision is made.
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begins review of Pakistan’s aviation standards, paving way for US flights
"While the outcome remains uncertain, the strong
performance of DG CAA Nadir Shafi Dar — especially in restoring routes to the
EU and UK — gives reason for cautious optimism," the PCAA said.
The five-member FAA team, along with US Embassy officials,
conducted detailed inspections, including document verification, safety
oversight evaluations, and briefings on compliance with international
standards. A second FAA delegation is expected later this year to assess
airport and airspace security protocols.
The audit is a key step in Pakistan’s efforts to restore
access to the US market. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been banned
from operating direct US flights since June 2020, following a fatal plane crash
in Karachi and revelations of pilots holding fake licenses.
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delegation’s upcoming visit to help restore Pakistani flights to the US
Earlier this year, PIA resumed flights to Europe and the UK
after those bans were lifted, signaling improvements in regulatory oversight.
A positive decision from the FAA would allow PIA to
reestablish US routes, potentially cutting travel times for over 700,000
Pakistani-Americans and boosting international confidence in Pakistan’s
aviation sector.
Source: Arab News