More delays by PIA

Lufthansa Cargo · Post by **Lufthansa Cargo** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:22 pm

Asallaam alaikum,

Just wondering whats going on with PIA and delays on their T7 Routes? Just last night I dropped my uncle to the airport after hearing that the flight was running 3hrs late on departure due to 7hr delay on the incoming flight to JFK. THe Schedueled Dep time was 8:30P.M. which was delayed to 11:30P.M. The flight was PK718/14Jan07

While there I also heard that the flight from the previos night with the same schedueled departure time actually started boarding at 05:30A.M. the following morning.

Whats going on in the 777 routes?

AP-BGL · Post by **AP-BGL** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:51 pm

Most of these delays are happening after the EU restrictions of 743s not to be used there, now mostly T7s have taken up that route and so the delays are there.

I hope things will be sorted out soon.

zerbaer · Post by **zerbaer** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:09 pm

Most of these delays are happening after the EU restrictions of 743s not to be used there, now mostly T7s have taken up that route and so the delays are there.

There are no EU restrictions on any particular type or model of aircraft. Restrictions apply to maintenance failures. Maint. deficiencies noted during ramp inspections not being rectified is reason for restrictions and for PK not operating certain aircraft to EU.

AP-BGL · Post by **AP-BGL** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:39 pm

zerbaer wrote:
Most of these delays are happening after the EU restrictions of 743s not to be used there, now mostly T7s have taken up that route and so the delays are there.
There are no EU restrictions on any particular type or model of aircraft. Restrictions apply to maintenance failures. Maint. deficiencies noted during ramp inspections not being rectified is reason for restrictions and for PK not operating certain aircraft to EU.

I was precisely talking about 743s that PIA have that they cannot be used there these days and most likely T7s are replacing them causing delays to other flights.

Lufthansa Cargo · Post by **Lufthansa Cargo** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:24 am

I thought that this issue with the B74s has been completed already no? If not maybe somebody can provide an update on what is currently going on with the 74s and having them meet the EU standards?

Ali Hasan · Post by **Ali Hasan** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 7:47 am

Lufthansa Cargo wrote:I thought that this issue with the B74s has been completed already no? If not maybe somebody can provide an update on what is currently going on with the 74s and having them meet the EU standards?

After some research, this is what I found. EASA banned some A310s and all the B747s from entering Europe. Earlier reports said only five B747s were banned, but I think all of them were banned later on.

Note: The following dates show when the aircraft was last seen in Europe, it does not necessarily reflect the last day of operation in Europe.

A310-300
AP-BDZ (Grounded since Nov. 21st after developing a problem with the autopilot. However, it has been declared fit to fly by Airbus. DonÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t know if it can fly to Europe or not.)
AP-BEB (Last seen on Dec. 26th at FRA)
AP-BEC (Last seen on Dec. 22nd at MAN)
AP-BEQ (Last seen on Dec. 21st at CPH)
AP-BEU (Last seen on Nov. 12th at MAN carrying the Prime Minister of Pakistan)
AP-BGN (Last seen this month at LHR)
AP-BGO (Last seen on Jan. 13th at STN)
AP-BGP (Last seen on Dec. 29th at STR)
AP-BGR (Last seen on Dec. 17th at LHR)
AP-BGS (Last seen this month at LHR)

B747s
Currently only two B747s are allowed to fly to Europe. They are:
AP-BAT
AP-BGG

To summarize I think AP-BEG, AP-BEU, AP-BDZ and AP-BGQ still need to be fixed. Six out of the eight B747s also need to be fixed. I believe PK is busy with the Hajj flights, thats why the B747s are taking more time.

Edit: AP-BEU is allowed to fly to Europe. That leaves AP-BEG, AP-BDZ and AP-BGQ to be fixed out of all the A310s.

DEZI · Post by **DEZI** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:37 am

Lufthansa Cargo wrote:I thought that this issue with the B74s has been completed already no? If not maybe somebody can provide an update on what is currently going on with the 74s and having them meet the EU standards?

AP-BFU is under EU compliance maintenance. It is expected to enter EU airspace in early february.

inducedrag · Post by **inducedrag** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:40 pm

TODAY PK787 departed 3 hrs delay due non available of extra crew then got a waiver from CAA to go with single set crew one capt. one F/O only instead of Two Capt. and one F/O

Lufthansa Cargo · Post by **Lufthansa Cargo** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:31 pm

So rather than changing their schedueled times they rather incur delays and pay the fines not only resulting in more money losses to airport fines but also loss of customers due to not being on time and them not being able to scheduel their trips accordingly?

PIA's APBIC started express ops but they should have used it on the long haul instead. I think that they should pull it from the domestic routes. Dont you guys think? It may not fix the delay problems but it might reduce the hours on delays.

This upgrading to EU standards is taking a major toll on PIA ops. Maybe they should use chartered a/c untill they fix the remaining fleet, no? During long term technicals airliners such as Aer Lingus used North American 767s and Europian airline 747-200s in place of A330-200s.

They are going to have to do something about this lets just hope whatever they do is for the better for PIA because according to my uncle who works for PIA in their offices in KHI, PIA is going down big time.

Hopefully they will privatize in time without any further major losses.

Regards,

Amaad Lone · Post by **Amaad Lone** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:52 pm

AP-BEU is fit to fly to EU, I was on PK763 on January 12th, and the aircraft was AP-BEU.

Lufthansa Cargo · Post by **Lufthansa Cargo** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 6:05 pm

Where does PK787 go to? What do you mean by single crew? Only one pilot in command the entire way? Isn't that a bit dangerous?

PK777 · Post by **PK777** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:16 pm

I didnt realise the seriousness of this! Do you think it is politically related at all i.e. PIa buying it aircraft from Boeing instead of Airbus hence, the ban?

Lufthansa Cargo · Post by **Lufthansa Cargo** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:56 am

thats a possibility because even the European Airbuses are being banned. Hey in this world you never know....

zerbaer · Post by **zerbaer** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 3:35 am

This upgrading to EU standards is taking a major toll on PIA ops. Maybe they should use chartered a/c untill they fix the remaining fleet, no? During long term technicals airliners such as Aer Lingus used North American 767s and Europian airline 747-200s in place of A330-200s.

"This upgrading to EU standards...." What airworthiness standards does PK meet/comply to? Is EASA not a EU organization? Isn't PK EASA 145 approved maintenance organization? Isn't CAA (Pak) approval of PK subject to EASA 145 regulations as enshrined in PK's Maint. Organization Exposition (MOE) submitted to CAA? How much time & someone else's money has it cost for the EASA approval & its renewals every six months? Was there any compulsion for PK to go for EASA 145 approval? As PK is unable to maintain its own aircraft to EASA regulations, how can it do it for third parties?