PIA Aircraft names 1997

[pkjet]

I am updating my PIA portfolio and need to know the names of the 6 B737s during the 1997 Pakistan 50th anniversary celebrations.

Thanks,

[Abbas Ali]

I know about following four:

AP-BCA - City of Sargodha
AP-BCC - City of Gujrat
AP-BCD - City of Khuzdar
AP-BCE - City of D.I.Khan

Abbas

[pkjet]

Thanks Abbas.

Any other names guys ????!!

[pkjet]

Contrary to my original post, I believe at that time PIA only had FIVE 737s in it's fleet and therefore all I need is the name of AP-BCB.

AP-BFT was added after the 1999 coup and is a former presidential aircraft.

[Abbas Ali]

Contrary to my original post, I believe at that time PIA only had FIVE 737s in it's fleet and therefore all I need is the name of AP-BCB.

Following six Boeing 737-300s were purchased directly from Boeing Company and delivered to PIA between June 1985 and June 1986.

AP-BCA
AP-BCB
AP-BCC
AP-BCD
AP-BCE
AP-BCF

The seventh Boeing 737-300 was purchased in 1992 and registered as AP-BEH. It was used as a VVIP aircraft in Pakistan Government markings during the 1990s.

In 1997 a total of seven B737-300s were in PIA fleet including AP-BEH used for VVIP flights. Except AP-BEH, all other six B737s were given city names to celebrate Pakistan’s 50th independence anniversary. AP-BEH simply sported Pakistan’s 50th independence anniversary circular emblem on its nose, the same emblem sported by other PIA aircraft also during the 1997 celebrations.

AP-BFT was added after the 1999 coup and is a former presidential aircraft.

In 1999 AP-BCE was re-registered as AP-BFT. The aircraft had met an accident as AP-BCE and remained grounded for some months. It was repaired with the help of Boeing Company and returned to service under new registration AP-BFT.

[AP-BGL]

In 1999 AP-BCE was re-registered as AP-BFT. The aircraft had met an accident as AP-BCE and remained grounded for some months. It was repaired with the help of Boeing Company and returned to service under new registration AP-BFT.

Why was the aircraft's registration changed? I mean couldn't it be used with the same registration once it is repaired?

[Abbas Ali]

The Boeing 737 under registration AP-BCE had met a number of accidents.

How the registration was changed from AP-BCE to AP-BFT is an interesting story. I read it at PakDef Forums some time ago and saved it. I don't remember the name of their forum member who posted it.

This story is about AP-BCE.

Unfortunately this particular aircraft was involved in a number of accidents/incidents (due to no fault of the poor aircraft and much to do with human errors). The last such accident occured in 1998 or so (eerily similar to the recent Air France accident in Canada) - the aircraft landed in extremely bad weather at Karachi, half way down the runway, with extremely high landing speed, the pilot in order to avoid overshooting the runway, tried to execute a u-turn of sorts. Given the high speed, the main landing gear gave way, tore through the wing and the aircraft pivoted on the engine instead and thankfully came to a stop. The aircraft ended up undergoing major reconstruction/repair.

The management decided this was enough bad-luck for this aircraft and the aircraft was rechristened as AP-BFT. Before its return back to service, a black goat was slaughtered under its wing and its blood was shed on the main landing gear for good luck.

From

AP-BCE - Copyright Dave Campbell

to


AP-BFT - Copyright Aroosh Naqvi

[FULLTHRUST]

The SUPERSTITIOUS Management at that time changed the registration of AP-BCE, and fortunately it worked out well.

[CombiFan]

Was it AP-BCD, which was responsible for starting Emirates? Alongwith a PIA B4, I forgot the registeration number.

[Abbas Ali]

Welcome to our forum CombiFan

Was it AP-BCD, which was responsible for starting Emirates? Alongwith a PIA B4, I forgot the registeration number.

Yes, the B737 leased out to Emirates was AP-BCD and the A300B4 was AP-BBM.

PIA Boeing 737-300 (AP-BCD) in Emirates livery

Copyright Ger Buskermolen
Link to large photo: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0772179/L/

PIA Airbus A300B4-203 (AP-BBM) in Emirates livery

Guido Allieri Collection.

[AP-BGL]

Abbas Bhai thats a very interesting story... Thanks for posting.

[pkjet]

Guys, Guys Guys !

Whilst I have found the replies to my post really deep and informative, I still need the name for AP-BCB !! Anyone ?????

[pkjet]

Here is a more detailed list.

I am awaiting info on BCB's registration as well as the B707 fleet and will post it here as soon as I get it. Meanwhile here's a guide to the rest of the fleet names.


B747-200
AP-AYV City of Lahore
AP-AYW City of Peshawar
AP-BCL City of Quetta
AP-BCN City of Hyderabad
AP-BCM City of Multan
AP-BCO City of Mardan

B74M
AP-BAK City of Karachi
AP-BAT City of Islamabad

A310
AP-BEB - City of Muree
AP-BEC - City of Swat
AP-BEG - City of Chitral
AP-BEQ - City of Gilgit
AP-BEU - City of Skardu
AP-BDZ - City of Ziarat

A300
AP-BFL - City of Abbotabad
AP-BEY - City of Kohat
AP-BAZ - City of Rawalpindi
AP-BAX - City of Faisalabad

Fokker F-27
AP-BDS - City of Zhob
AP-BDP - City of Jacobabad
AP-BCT - City of Sui
AP-ATU - City of Gwadar
AP-ALW - City of Shikarpur

[pkjet]

still waitintg !

[Abbas Ali]

A few more I know:

DHC-6 Twin Otter
AP-BCG - Mangla Dam

Fokker F-27
AP-BCZ - City of Bannu
AP-BDB - City of Jhelum
AP-BDQ - City of R.Y.Khan
AP-BDR - City of Jhang