PIA Flights Schedule Affected by Pilots on 'go-slow' Protest

[Abbas Ali]

JULY 26, 2010 - According to Express News channel, a number of PIA pilots have begun 'go slow' protest. So far, during past 48 hours, at least ten Captains and four First Officers have refused to operate flight at the last moment.

The protest has affected PIA flights on airline's domestic network and international flights to Dhaka and destinations in Middle East.

According to news report, the pilots are unhappy over decisions taken by management in case of a physical fight between a flight steward and flight captain that happened at Bahrain Airport some months ago. Other demands include confirmed business class seats for on-duty (supernumerary ?) pilots.

Here's July 26, 2010 'Express' news channel report.



Abbas

[Uzair Ansari]

As far as I know,pilots travelling as Supy have their seats booked and blocked in Business class and sometimes Economy Plus.
May i please know about the fight that took place in Bahrain?

[Abbas Ali]

May i please know about the fight that took place in Bahrain?

Bahrain flight incident info can be found on official website of Pakistan Air Line Pilots' Association (PALPA) at www.palpa.org.pk

and in following topic of this forum.

Forum Topic: Steward Assaults PIA Pilot (Posted on February 20, 2010)

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Some hours ago, 'Express' news channel ticker quoted PIA sources claiming that PALPA President refused to operate Karachi-Dubai sector flight of the airline.

Related news reports:

PIA pilots adopt 'Go-Slow' policy

KARACHI: PIA pilots have refused to operate flights, which has affected the flight schedule and causing problems for passengers.

According to sources, the pilots are delaying the flights for several hours under the Go-Slow policy.

Spokesman for PIA, Syed Sultan Hassan, told Express News that the demands of the pilots had been met earlier, but they have come up with new demands.

He said that most of the demands are illegal.

Pakistan Air line Pilots’ Association (PALPA) demanded that the management immediately stop an investigation against some of its pilots.

The president of the association refused to talk to Express News.

Source: tribune.com.pk

PIA, pilots blame each other for flights delay

By Farhan Zaheer

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) management and the Pakistan Air Line Pilots Association (PALPA) are at loggerheads once again, with each side blaming the other for delaying flights and creating problems for both the airline and passengers.

President PALPA, Sohail Baluch, while speaking to The Express Tribune, stated: “I assure you that pilots are not responsible for the delay of flights and they are doing their assigned job.”

Pilots are not resorting to go-slow contrary to the claims of the PIA management, he said. “We need safety and this is what we have asked a number of times,” Baluch added.

He said that the PIA management is neglecting safety of passengers and pilots by making haphazard rosters (the duty schedule for pilots detailing when and where they are to fly next).

By neglecting pilots’ safety concerns, they are indirectly putting the passengers at risk as a disgruntled pilot may make mistakes while flying a plane, he explained.

The members of PALPA also observed that the PIA has always faced a shortage of pilots, but such mismanagement of rosters has never occurred before.

PIA spokesperson held the pilots responsible for the delay of flights, saying many of the pilots had refused to fly the plane at the eleventh hour causing huge problems to both the management and the passengers.

He said that the pilots would never accept their own fault and never admit that they have refused to fly planes. Furthermore, he added, the pilots just have an association to represent them and not a union to make demands, which they are perpetually doing.

He accused the pilots of deliberately delaying four national and international flights by three to five hours when the PIA management did not bow to their demands. “Pilots are one of the highest paid employees of the PIA, and they still expect the management to cater only to their demands, while neglecting other sections,” he said.

Palpa, in a press release issued on Monday, denied observing any go-slow, saying that the flight to Dhaka on July 24 had not been delayed because of deliberate slow work by pilots.

It said that the management asks the pilots to go on flights without any prior notice which is a violation of the PALPA-PIAC working agreement and CAA Flight Safety Rules.

Palpa demanded the implementation of the ‘working agreement’ which not only addresses all issues but provides an ample ground for resolution of disputes. “If the management is interested in running the affairs of the national flag carrier, then they will have to abide by the working agreement on which both parties were agreed,” the association said.

Source: tribune.com.pk

PALPA denies 'go-slow'

LAHORE - Pakistan Air Line Pilots’ Association (PALPA) has categorically denied announcing or observing any ‘go-slow’. A spokesman of the body representing pilots of the national flag carrier rejected the claim by the management that a flight to Dhaka on July 24 was delayed because of a ‘go slow’ by pilots.

After a meeting of members of the association, the spokesman of the body said that all the members were upset with the press note issued by the management accusing the pilot of a ‘go-slow’.

Some management pilots (also members of PALPA) on special instructions of MD PIA Capt Aijaz Haroon attended the meeting and tried to explain the management’s position and demanded pilots’ extra cooperation. Their arguments were rejected by the PALPA, which said that cooperation is always a two-way phenomenon and dictatorial methods never succeed where corporations are under immense pressure of losses due to mismanagement.

The members of PALPA observed that PIA has always been short of pilots but such mismanagement of rosters never occurred before.
They said either the management is completely inefficient or over confident that it can pull pilots from their family engagements on phone calls and put them on flights in clear violation of PALPA-PIAC Working Agreement and CAA Flight Safety Rules.

Spokesman said that the PR department of the airline has been cunningly misleading the press and general public about PALPA’s demands and now it has gone to an extent that it has announced a go-slow itself.

The spokesman said that the management itself is on a deliberate go-slow which is putting all its departments on verge of collapse.
The spokesman further said that pilots worldwide are kept on “standby” to take place of any of their colleague reporting sick or unable to fly which is again a normal procedure as the Aviation Safety Rules allow the pilots to do so in case they don’t feel fit for flying.

He said the PALPA is continuously demanding the implementation of Working Agreement which not only addresses all such issues but provides an ample ground for resolution of disputes etc.

Source: The Nation

[Abbas Ali]

PIA Management Not To Be Intimadated by PALPA

Lahore, July 27: Pakistan Air Line Pilots Association (PALPA) has again resorted to unlawful Go-slow policy in an effort to disrupt the flight schedule of PIA to pressurize and dictate the airline management to accommodate their unjust requests. PIA spokesman said here on Tuesday.

Palpa has a long history of pressurizing the PIA managements in the past as well. But for the first time the national flag carrier is being managed by the professional management of PIA veteran pilots not crumbling under PALPA pressure by maintaining the flight schedule to avoid discomfort to the passengers. However, some flights were delayed due the last minute refusal of PALPA activist pilots to perform their roster duty, decided in advance on monthly basis.

Glaring examples from dereliction of roster duty to operate a scheduled flight was of the President and Vice President Palpa Messer’s Capt Suhail Baluch on the pretext the he was busy in PALPA affairs and Capt Aitzaz reporting sick.

Since last Saturday, 35 Captains and First Officers under PALPA pressure have avoided operating flights at the last minute. These flights most of them were operated on scheduled time by the management pilots.

So far, of the daily 145 flight departures to different destinations about 30 flights both domestic and international were delayed due to the last minute refusal to operate by the PALPA activist pilots, which were successfully managed by the PIA management pilots.

PALPA side by side with pressurizing the PIA management was also intimidating the pilots by issuing Show Cause Notices to take action against those operating the flight against their directions.

Presently, PALPA wants that the PIA management should dismiss from service without any disciplinary proceedings the cabin crew involved in an altercation with Capt. Shahab Anis in Bahrain. The management’s point of view is lawfully action against any employee cannot be taken without an inquiry and a chance to explain his position.

Secondly, PALPA Executive Committee members want salaries and allowances similar to that being paid to the management pilots. PIA spokesman said that the management stands by the Working Agreement which is in place in letter and spirit but the undue favors would not be accepted that the PAPLA President Capt Suhail Baluch is desirous for himself, Vice President Capt Aitzaz, and executive member First Officer Rizwan Ahmad like restoring their seniority. They had gone abroad to work for a foreign airline in 1997 for their personal financial gains in a situation when PIA flight operations was facing difficulties in running the operations as such they were superseded as per rules of the airline.

However, PIA management was committed to resolving any genuine issue of airline pilots and has also invited PALPA to stop Go-slow and resolve matter judiciously as the management was always ready to listen to PALPA in the interest of the airline. PIA spokesman said PIA management had scheduled a meeting with the Palpa on Wednesday, July 28 but PALPA refused on the pretext that they have mobilized the PIA pilots for the Go-slow which will ground the airline so talks at this time will break tempo of their activists.

PIA has a liberal policy for pilot’s duty hours which is 10 hours while the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) prescribed duty time limit was 12 hours for cockpit crew. Besides, CAA allows a day off in a week (4days in a month) but PIA pilots are given 10 days off in a month. PALPA is misleading when they claim that pilots are doing 18 hours of duty. PIA spokesman concluded.

Source: PIA Press Release

[Abbas Ali]

PIA management, pilots reignite war of words

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

KARACHI: The management and pilots of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) are once again at loggerheads over latter’s salary and extended flying hours issues.

The PIA management on Tuesday said that 35 captains and first officer pilots refused to take flights at the last minute during the last four days under the pressure of Pakistan Air Line Pilots Association (PALPA).

“So far, out of 145 daily departures to different destinations, about 30 domestic and international flights were delayed,” PIA said in a statement. The flights had to be operated by pilots who are running the managerial affairs of the airline.

The statement said that PALPA had a long history of pressurising the management, but this time the management would not crumble.

It said that PALPA was seeking a hike in salaries, but the management would stand by the working agreement signed with the pilots a couple of months ago.

The PIA management had invited PALPA for a meeting on July 28, which was refused by the pilots.

On the other hand, PALPA accused the management of forcing the pilots to fly longer than the approved 10 hours.

“The Flight Operation Directorate is compelling the pilots to fly airplanes for longer durations, which is against the international rules,” PALA said in a statement.

It asked the Civil Aviation Authority to take notice of these violations, which, according to the body, may cause accidents.

It said that recently a crew on Boeing 777 after coming to Karachi from Oslo had to wait for several hours and then made to fly to Islamabad and the flight time exceeded 17 hours.

PIA refused PALPA’s stance, saying that the national carrier has a liberal policy for pilot’s duty hours, which is less than the CAA limit of 12 hours for cockpit crew.

Source: The News

PIA-pilots row continues

KARACHI, July 27: The Pakistan International Airlines management and its pilots remained on a collision course on Tuesday.

The PIA alleged that the Pakistan Air Lines Pilots Association (PALPA) was forcing its members to observe a go-slow to disrupt flight operations. It said owing to the pilots’ last-minute refusal to fly according to their duty roster, more than 30 flights of its 145 departures had been delayed. The PIA was, however, managing flight operations with the help of management pilots.

The PIA claimed that PALPA wanted it to take action, without following the procedure, against the cabin crew involved in an altercation with a pilot. It said PALPA also wanted that they be paid salaries equal to that of the management pilots. It said PALPA insisted on giving seniority to a few office-bearers, who had left the PIA to serve in other airlines and were superseded under the rules of the airline. It also claimed that the PIA wanted a meeting with PALPA on Wednesday, but the later rejected the proposal.

The PIA said PIA pilots performed duty for 10 hours against the Civil Aviation Authority prescribed duty time limit of 12 hours. The CAA allowed a day off in a week whereas the pilots enjoyed 10 days off in a month.

PALPA, on the other hand, asked the CAA to take note of air safety violation committed by the PIA. Citing an example, it said a crew on Boeing 777, which flew from Oslo to Karachi, was made to wait at the airport for several hours and then asked to take a flight to Islamabad – exceeding 17 hours of flying which was a clear violation of safety rules, putting lives of passengers in danger.

PALPA said that one management pilot, a general manager, flew for three consecutive days to Kuwait, Muscat and Dubai, while attending his office also. In another case, a retired captain working on contract, almost 63 years old, flew to Lahore and then to London, making it a total flight duty of more than 13 hours and two flights, which is against PAPLAPIA working agreement and the CAA flight safety rules. It was also against the PIA’s own safety rules.

PALPA urged the CAA to take notice of such air safety violations as, according to the CAA rules, the PIA management can in no way compel a pilot to exceed 10 hours of flying

Source: DAWN

PIA management firm against PALPA

KARACHI: Pakistan Air Line Pilots Association (PALPA) has adopted a go-slow policy in an effort to compel the PIA to accommodate their demands, a PIA spokesman said here on Tuesday.

The national flag carrier is being managed by the professional management of PIA veteran pilots, who are not paying heed to the Palpa pressure by maintaining the flight schedule to avoid the discomfort to the passengers. However, some flights were delayed due the last minute refusal of Palpa activist pilots to perform their roster duty, decided in advance on monthly basis.

Among those who delayed their respective flights were, President and Vice President of Palpa, Capt Suhail Baluch, on the pretext that he was busy in Palpa affairs, and Capt Aitzaz, reporting sick. Since last Saturday, 35 Captains and First Officers have avoided operating flights at the last minute. The management pilots operated these flights on scheduled time.

So far, of the daily 145 flight departures to different destinations, about 30 flights both domestic and international were delayed due to the last minute refusal to operate by the Palpa activist pilots, which were successfully managed by the PIA management pilots.

Palpa has also issued Show Cause Notices to those operating the flights against their directions.

Presently, Palpa wants that the PIA management to dismiss the cabin crew involved in an altercation with Capt Shahab Anis in Bahrain. The management’s point of view is that legally, action against any employee cannot be taken without an inquiry and a chance to explain his position. staff report

Source: Daily Times

[Abbas Ali]

MD PIA Initiates Inquiry

Lahore 28 July, 2010 : The on going illegal go-slow of PALPA continues for the fifth day. PIA spokesman said here on Wednesday.

First officer S. Jamal was on a scheduled flight duty on PK-787 on Wednesday, 28 July from Jinnah International Airport, Karachi to London, Heathrow scheduled to depart at 0930 AM. The departure was rescheduled at 1030 AM due to operational reasons when first officer S Jamal refused to fly the aircraft and left the Cockpit.

Because of his last minute refusal to operate the flight a delay of over five hours occurred. Another first officer had to be called on duty and the flight was unnecessarily delayed due to the negligence of first officer S Jamal. Managing Director PIA, Captain Muhammad Aijaz Haroon has ordered an immediate inquiry against first officer S. Jamal for his negligence in duty.

Source: PIA Press Release

[Abbas Ali]

PALPA terms Air Navigation Order 'illegal, disputed': worst air crash in Pakistan's history

IQBAL MIRZA

KARACHI (July 30 2010): Over the ember of one tragedy lurks the shadow of another. This is how Captain Suhail Baluch, President, Pakistan Airline Pilots' Association (PALPA) expressed his fear following the Air Blue Airbus A321 worst ever crash in Margalla hills on Wednesday and the Air Navigation Order No 91.0012 issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on April 20, 2010.

He described the Order, known in aviation parlance as ANO-IV as "illegal" and "disputed". It relates to flight time, flight duty periods, duty period and rest periods for fatigue management for flight and cabin crew. The Order is divided into 19 sections, ie authority, purpose, scope, definitions, simulator training and aircraft flying, responsibilities, duty period, flight duty period and flight time, cumulative total time limitations, extension of flight duty periods, reporting time, flights operated by augmented crew and the provision of in-flight relief, limitations on number of landings, consecutive night limitation, minimum rest period limitations, miscellaneous provisions, variation to FDTL, record keeping, references, and implementation.

Captain Suhail disapproved of the Order on the ground that it has been issued despite PALPA's best efforts and the agreement that efforts shall be made to adjust PALPA's observations and suggestions, this was not done. He showed copies of letters sent to Captain Naveed Ahmed Aziz, Director Flight Standards (DFS), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on April 2 and 6 and meeting with Deputy Director General and DFS on the subject. In his letter sent on May 27 to DFS, PALPA had enumerated clause-wise observations/reservations to ANO-IV for the consideration of CAA as under:

Clause 1.3: In this clause, the obligation of operators with fatigue management is mentioned while in our opinion the obligation of crew member shall also be there.

Clause 2.6: We would like to abreast ourselves with the scientific principle and knowledge, provided these are made available to us. Clause 3.1: - The word "Managing Fatigue" needs more elaboration in perspective of scientific information in order to provide appropriate values for limitation in this respect. Clause 4.13: - In this clause the term "Degree of Privacy" needs more elaboration as it is merely not satisfying the requirements. Clause 4.14: - It is being felt that the definition of "fatigue" may more clearly be explained. Clause 4.5: - We would like to refer ANO-3A in this respect, where the definition of "Home Base" is in a better way explained. Clause 4.18: - It needs a revision.

Clause 4.20: The definition "positioning" has been taken from CAP-371 which forms a part only; we need the whole definition as per clause 11.1 and 11.2 in conjunction with clause 9.3 of CAP-371. Clause 4.21: - The "Reporting Time" shall be with respect to, of an individual crew member not all of the crew members as given.

Clause 4.23: We believe that the definition "Roster" here is not satisfying the needs, it may therefore be further elaborated. Clause 4.26: - This definition "Suitable Accommodation" here has been derived from CAP-371; it shall be likewise to CAP-371, explaining the clarity of the subject.

Clause 4.27: The term "unforeseen operational circumstances" does not satisfy the requirements and therefore, needs more elaboration.

Clause 7.2.1: As per this clause, the post flight time is not included in the minimum flight time, which needs its inclusion.

Clause 7.2.2: In the multiple crew compliment, the duty time for Cockpit and cabin crew is the same which needs consideration.

Clause 7.3.1: The rest requirements prior to schedule departure was initially 36 hours, it was then reduced to 30 hours and now concluded to 24 hours. It is beyond our imagination why it has been reduced to finally 24 hours from 36 hours. Can we also be communicated those scientific rules for reaching such a drastic destination. Clause 11.3: - It needs revision as per ANO-3A, clause 8.1.7 refers. Clause 9.5: - This clause is in contradiction with clause 16.2 of the same ANO-IV and undermines the authority of DGCAA, this can be deleted.

Clause 8.1.4 of ANO-3A is pertaining to time spent in the office and or/simulator by a crew member prior to operating a flight will be considered for calculation of Flight Duty Period, is totally missing, needs its inclusion. The definition of "Acclimatised" shall be a part of ANO-IV as it envisages a clear view of rest required. It is available in CAP-371.

PALPA had expressed confidence that an appropriate action as agreed, to adjust its observations/reservations shall be taken at its earliest and if required, the concerned committee of PALPA will be available for any queries/meeting and assured of its best co-operation at all times.

ANO-IV was issued under Rule 201, 202 & 206 of the Civil Aviation Rules 1994 (CARs 94) by the Director-General, CAA in pursuance of the powers vested in him under Rule-4 of CARs 94. It specifies that an Operator shall establish flight time and duty period limitations and a rest scheme that shall enable it to manage the fatigue of all its flight and cabin crew members. This scheme shall comply with the regulations prescribed in this ANO, and shall be included in the Operations Manual.

ANO made it obligatory on all Operators to ensure that all the operations are conducted in conformity with fatigue management covered hereafter. It explained that flying, loads the body and mind with stress and strain. Depending on the type of aircraft and the type of work involved, the strain to body and mind varies.

The primary issues governing fatigue and alertness on the flight deck are the amount of sleep/rest put in before subjecting the body and mind to strain; duration of work; frequency of work; phase of the sleep/wake cycle (ie circadian rhythm); the nature of flying and the number of crew members involved in the function and their individual competence. In a single day, a flight crew on international sectors, during the course of work may have to cross a number of time zones resulting in additional strain on the body. Moreover, modern jet aircraft flying at very high altitudes in rarefied atmosphere also contributes to additional strain and consequent fatigue.

Unlike other materials, the human body has an in-built capacity to recover from the effect of strain and consequent fatigue. The natural recourse to recovery from fatigue is through proper and adequate rest and sleep. It is also an accepted fact that the aviation industry requires 24-hour activities to meet operational demands. Flight crew must be available to support the 24-hour-a-day operation to meet the industry demand. Therefore shift work, night work; irregular/unpredictable work schedules will continue to be common components of functioning in aviation industry.

ICAO while recognising the effect of fatigue on performance has recommended Contracting States to establish regulations specifying the limitations applicable to the flight time, flight duty period and rest period for flight crew members. Further it requires that these provisos should ensure that fatigue occurring either in a flight or successive flights or accumulated over a period of time due to these and other tasks does not endanger the safety of a flight. Even though there is no absolute or perfect solution to the demands of duty and rest scheduling in aviation but with these as guiding principles, all the Contracting States have established regulations for Flight Duty Time, Flight Time and Rest period.

Flight time, flight duty period, duty period limitations and rest requirements are established for the purpose of ensuring that flight crew and the cabin crew members are performing at an adequate level of alertness for safe flight operations. The CAA claimed that ANO-IV is based upon scientific principles and knowledge, where available, with the aim of ensuring that crew members are performing at an adequate level of alertness and will provide safeguards against both, transient fatigue and cumulative fatigue.

For the purpose of managing fatigue, these regulations are established under the Standards and Recommended Practices of ICAO Annex 6. This ANO provides limitations on flight time, flight duty period, duty period and rest requirements with regards to variables which are likely to influence flight and cabin crew member's alertness (eg, allowable flight hours, duty and flight duty periods, and minimum rest periods) that may be applied when flight and cabin crew rosters are planned.

ANO-IV is applicable to: a) All AOC holders; b) Flight crew members; c) Cabin crew members. Augmented flight crew: A flight crew that comprises more than the minimum number required to operate the aircraft and in which each flight crew member can leave their assigned post and be replaced by another appropriately qualified flight crew member for the purpose of in-flight rest. PALPA desired that its concerns be rectified at the earliest to ensure safety and security of travellers.

Source: www.brecorder.com

Probe into PIA flight rough landing demanded

By: Amraiz Khan | Published: July 30, 2010

LAHORE - Hours after the crash of a private airlines plane in Islamabad killing 152 passengers Pakistan Air Line Pilots Association members have demanded an inquiry into the PIA international flight which made abnormal landing at Karachi Airport because of its over worked staff.

They claimed that a PIA flight PK 736 made rough landing at Karachi and the abnormal landing was also felt badly by the passengers as well, said spokesman of the Pakistan Airline Pilots Association PALPA on Thursday.

The spokesman said that an inquiry into the delay and exceeding of Flight Duty Time at (Night) should also be ordered for the crew of Boeing 747 on PK 735 from Karachi to Jeddah and PK 736 Jeddah to Karachi on 26th and 27th July respectively which were delayed at Karachi due to an incident wherein a catering van hit the aircraft and subsequently at Jeddah due to time slot. Both the flights were operated by the same set of crew, departing from Karachi as per schedule around 9:30 PM (actual departure after delay at midnight), and reaching Karachi (PK 736) around 9AM in the morning exceeding the single crew night flight duty time by more than 5 hours.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Pakistan Air Line Pilots Association PALPA has rejected a claim from PIA’s management that a go slow by pilots caused a delay on PK 787 to London.

Source: The Nation

[Moin]

MD PIA Initiates Inquiry

Lahore 28 July, 2010 : The on going illegal go-slow of PALPA continues for the fifth day. PIA spokesman said here on Wednesday.

First officer S. Jamal was on a scheduled flight duty on PK-787 on Wednesday, 28 July from Jinnah International Airport, Karachi to London, Heathrow scheduled to depart at 0930 AM. The departure was rescheduled at 1030 AM due to operational reasons when first officer S Jamal refused to fly the aircraft and left the Cockpit.

Because of his last minute refusal to operate the flight a delay of over five hours occurred. Another first officer had to be called on duty and the flight was unnecessarily delayed due to the negligence of first officer S Jamal. Managing Director PIA, Captain Muhammad Aijaz Haroon has ordered an immediate inquiry against first officer S. Jamal for his negligence in duty.

Source: PIA Press Release

My sister was on this flight and according to her they were short of one cockpit crew and had to find someone else. They kept giving excuses that there were 'changing the wheels' of the a/c which was obviously not the case. They finally left around 1.30-2pm and landed at LHR at 1845 and I took this pic:

[Abbas Ali]

Lahore, JULY 30, 2010: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is operating its flights around the world according to the rules and regulations laid by International Aviation Safety Standards. The flight duty timings of the pilots in PIA are well within the prescribed rules and regulations. PIA spokesman said on Thursday.

He said that it is noteworthy that PIA has the duty time of ten hours for single pair of crew i.e. single Pilot and First Officer. If the flight duty time exceed up to thirteen hours than an extra pilot travel along the flight to provide relief to the operating pilot.

The flight duty time of Long Range (LR) flights is fifteen hours with double pair of pilot and crew. The pilot duty hours for Long haul flights according to International Aviation Policy are eighteen hours of flight duty time.

PIA spokesman said that PALPA executive committee in an effort to extract personal gains was spreading disinformation to the disadvantage of the national flag carrier and to pressurize the PIA management agree to their unjust demands outside the working agreement signed by them.

Media statements made by President PALPA, Captain Sohail Baluch about pilot fatigue even in the case of ill-fated Air Blue crash have been proven wrong. His contention that PIA Flight Operation Directorate and airline management was compelling pilots to fly longer than international laid down rules, thus putting passengers’ safety at peril, is a false statement.

PIA spokesman said that the Air Navigation Rules prescribed by the CAA states that the rest hours of the pilot and crew is of twice the duration of the flight time of previous flight and not less than twelve hours. It is important to note that PIA provides rest to its pilots and crew in excess of this minimum stipulated rest.

PIA provides forty eight hours of rest to its pilots after the flight duty timing of fifteen hours and almost twenty four hours of rest after a flight of ten hours.

It is pertinent to mention here that Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has the prescribed flight duty time of twelve hours with one pilot and First Officer, which is being followed by the airlines operating in America and other countries. Whereas, according to Joint Aviation Requirement (JAR OPS) followed by all the airlines of Europe, the flight duty time of a single pair of crew is thirteen hours. CAA has allowed the airlines in the country to operate a flight with single pair of crew for the flight duty time of twelve hours but PIA has further relaxed the flight duty time up to ten hours.

It is worth mentioning that the detail of flight duty time for PIA pilots is the part of Working Agreement 2009- 2011 has been signed by Captain Sohail Baluch as Vice President and now President of PALPA and other executive members of the association.

PALPA GO-SLOW DELAYED 45 FLIGHTS

PIA spokesman said that since the last seven days PALPA President Captain Sohail Baluch, Vice President Captain Aitazaz, General Secretary TM Rabbani and other Executive members have not only refused to operate flights at the last minute themselves but have also been pressurizing other PIA pilots and First Officers to refuse even their rostered/ scheduled duties.

During the last seven days 58 Captains and First Officers have refused to operate flights at the last moment which delayed 45 flights causing unnecessary discomfort to the traveling public. Some of the standby pilots have also reported sick which further complicates rescheduling of the flights.

Source: PIA Press Release

[Abbas Ali]

Go-Slow Continues

Lahore, July 31 2010: PALPA Go-Slow continues on the eight day. PIA Spokesman said on Saturday.

PALPA President, Sohail Baluch has again refused to operate the flight giving the reason that he was busy in his Association activities so he will not report to duty.

On the eight day of the 500 pilots on PIA payroll 64 Captains and First Officers have so far refused to fly scheduled flights due to PALPA Go-Slow; causing financial losses to the airline and long delays in flight departures of 52 flights and cancellations of 04 domestic and international flights causing unnecessary discomfort to the passengers.

The flights cancelled have caused an estimated loss of Rs. 500 million to the national flag carrier.

Besides the last minute refusal not to operate by the Captains and First Officers on the Roster (Scheduled) duty, some of the standby Pilots in order to disturb the flight operations also reported sick.

Source: PIA Press Release

[Moin]

Yet they still expect their full salaries and benefits from an already financially crippled airline and continue to add salt to the wound.

[Abbas Ali]

PALPA decides to take PIA to court over 'misleading statements'

Published: August 01, 2010

LAHORE - Pakistan Airline Pilots Association (PALPA) has decided to challenge the misleading statements by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the court of law at an appropriate time as management is not only misleading general public by blaming pilots for flight delays but also covering up its inefficiencies due to which the airline has come to a virtual collapse, said spokesman of Pakistan Airline Pilots Association on Saturday.

Pakistan International Airlines has resorted to outrageously ridiculous tactics of damaging its own image by illogically blaming pilots for adopting policy of go-slow which is contrary to the facts on ground, he added.

A Pakistan Air Line Pilots Association official said that statements from Pakistan International Airlines said that a single crew’s duty time on a flight is only 10 hours; however, on a flight PK779 on Friday 30 July from Islamabad to Barcelona the crew performed 15 hours of duty and the PIA spokesperson claimed at a TV channel that it was strictly according to the rules.

The Pakistan Air Line Pilots Association spokesperson said that one wonders whether PIA has different set of rules while clarifying such issues at electronic media as they have very clearly mentioned in their press release published today that maximum flight duty time is 10 hours.

The spokesman said that the working agreement of Pakistan Airline Pilots Association signed with PIA after a deliberation of more than one year clearly says that the flight time should not exceed 10 hours if one set of crew is operating i.e. One Captain and One First Officer.

For the record purposes, it is to be clarified that the instances mentioned in PIA press release were totally baseless and contrary to facts:

1. First Officer S. Jamal reported in-time for roster duty on flight PK 787 from Karachi to London, which had flight duty time under the stipulated limits of 10 hours as the flight duration from Karachi to London is around 8 hours and 30 minutes. However, when S Jamal reached the aircraft he was told that it had developed some technical fault which was being looked into by the PIA engineers.
First Officer S Jamal asked the flight operations department to take a waiver of restrictions of Flight Duty Time as in case the plane was not ready for departure within 2 hours his duty time will exceed the limits according to the PALPA-PIA working agreement. However, PIA didn’t request any waiver from PALPA till 11 AM and the aircraft was still not ready for departure at that time so S Jamal refused to do a flight which was becoming a safety risk because of exceeding the Air Navigation Order (ANO) and PALPA-PIA Working Agreement’s stipulated limits.

2. Recently, a crew on Boeing 777 which flew back to Karachi from Oslo was made to wait for several hours at Karachi Airport and then asked to take the flight to Islamabad exceeding flying hours to 18 hours. This case is another testament of disrupting the facts by the PIA.

3. One of the management pilots has flown for three consecutive days between 20th July and 23rd July for destinations like Kuwait, Muscat, Dubai, Lahore and Sialkot making his flight duty stretch to more than prescribed limit in consecutive 3 days, as opposed to PIA claims that they give 48 hours rest to the pilots after a flight.
The captain of Boeing 737 who holds a responsible position of General Manager in the flight operations department violated all safety procedures and did consecutive flights while attending the office as well. Such violations of air safety rules raise serious questions about PIA management’s existing policy for the airline as well as management’s future strategy.

4. Last week a retired captain, working on contract, was asked to first fly PK 302 to Lahore and then PK 757 to London making it a total Flight Duty of more than 12 hours and 2 flights in a day which is against PALPA-PIA Working Agreement and CAA Flight Safety Rules.

He requested CAA to take notice of such air safety violations as according to the CAA rules the PIA management can in no way compel a pilot to exceed 10 hours of flying to ensure flight safety. The Working Agreement also clearly stipulates that a pilot cannot fly for more than 10 hours.

Source: The Nation

PIA, PALPA fail to settle differences

* Both sides accuse each other of putting passengers’ lives at risk
* Pilots’ go-slow policy causing losses worth millions of rupees to PIA: officials

By Umair Aziz

LAHORE: The row between the administration of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Pakistan Air Line Pilots’ Association (PALPA) has intensified, as both sides on Saturday accused each other of compromising passenger safety and causing losses worth millions of rupees to the national airline.

The controversy started when the PIA administration pointed out that pilots had been observing a “go-slow” policy, causing flight delays and inconvenience to passengers.

However, PALPA office-bearers have denied the allegations and instead claim that the airline’s administration should abide by the agreement signed between the two sides in 2009.

The episode took a new turn after PALPA accused the PIA administration of putting the lives of passengers at risk by assigning a 15-hour flight schedule to pilots and crew in violation of aviation rules.

A PIA spokesperson, however, said that due to non-cooperation of pilots, the administration had to hire retired pilots, which in fact had put the lives of the passengers at risk.

PALPA and PIA officials were scheduled to hold a joint meeting with senior officials from the Ministry of Defence on Saturday to resolve their differences. However, sources in both organisations confirmed that the meeting did not take place.

Talking to Daily Times, a PALPA spokesman said that the PIA had resorted to “outrageously ridiculous tactics of damaging its own image by illogically blaming the pilots for adopting the go-slow policy”.

He maintained that the PIA had issued a statement that a single crew’s duty time on a flight was only 10 hours. “However, on the July 30 flight from Islamabad to Barcelona, the crew performed 15 hours of duty,” the spokesman said, adding that the 2009 working agreement between PALPA and the PIA clearly stated that the flight time should not exceed 10 hours.

He further criticised the PIA’s policy of hiring retired pilots and demanded that 60 years should be set as the maximum age for pilots.

However, a PIA spokesperson said that the PIA was operating its flights around the world in line with international aviation safety standards, adding that the flight duty timings of PIA pilots were “well within” the prescribed rules and regulations.

“If the flight duty time exceeds to 13 hours, then an extra pilot is also on the flight to provide relief to the operating pilot,” the PIA official said.

Moreover, he said both domestic and international agencies were monitoring PIA flight operations. “If there were any irregularities, the agencies would have highlighted it. Besides, PALPA is just an association and monitoring the PIA does not fall within its ambit,” he said.

The official said the PIA suffered losses worth Rs 500 million due to flight cancellations on a single day recently after pilots refused to operate flights.

Responding to a question about hiring retired pilots, the PIA official said 65 years was the retirement age for pilots across the world and even PALPA had signed an agreement that pilots could be hired on a contract even after retirement.

Source: Daily Times

[Moin]

When exactly does 'duty time' start? From the moment they reach the dispatch office or when they step into the flight deck?

[Huraiz]

According to following news report PK785 ISB-LHR was canceled today cause of pilot refusing to operate the flight.
Well done and who suffers most??? Not pilots but general public who ultimately pays their wages...Carry on guys.....this will just bring PIA right back on track.....





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