Details of Airbus A320 Aircraft Offered on Lease to PIA

[Abbas Ali]

Five Leased Airbus A320 Aircraft to Join PIA Fleet

March 7 - According to PTV News, today PIA officials informed a parliamentary committee meeting that five leased Airbus A320 aircraft will join PIA fleet soon.

Aircraft delivery schedule details not given by the news channel.

Abbas

[Moin]

Posted on the PIA Facebook page:

PIA is ready to receive 5 narrow body Airbus A320-232 series aircraft on lease to take position of old B737-300 series aircraft, incoming aircraft registered to PCAA and induction starting from 20th March 2013 as per following schedule:

A320-232 AP-BLC: 20 March 2013
A320-232 AP-BLE: 31 March 2013
A320-232 AP-BLA: 07 April 2013
A320-232 AP-BLB: 20 May 2013
A320-232 AP-BLD: 24 May 2013

All 5 Airbus A320-232 will be delivered in full white color and PIA Engineering (Base Station, Karachi) will initially look-up to make aircraft ready for departures, and also engineering personnel will paint the latest livery, taking national flag on tails.

[Moin]

as much as they need new aircraft, these ex JQ a320s arent in the best conditon!

When PIA issued the tender, the bidders had to submit maintenance records detailing the time remaining on critical parts such as LLPs and landing gear. The aircraft would have been rejected, as some were, if they didn't meet the requirements specified.

first off why would an airline dispose off a barely used aircraft anyway?

Excess capacity, end of lease agreements, who knows. The tender process was rigorous and if these aircraft hadn't met the worthiness criteria, they wouldn't have been accepted.

they have all eco extrmemly tight seating as in 28" seat pitch and NON RECLINING SEATS! and NO IFE! the plane seemed tired and tatty overall.

The aircraft will be used mainly on relatively short legs domestically and regionally where such features are not necessary. Most importantly, PIA will be able to operate some semblance of a normal schedule compared to the current chaotic situation with the 737 and a310s fleets.

Not to mention V2500 engines that are considerd to be maintenance heavy!

Compared to the rb211 and cfm56, every engine would be considered unreliable and maintenance heavy!

Nevertheless, the V2500 does have about 2% lower fuel burn than the cfm56 and if it's good enough for Lufthansa, British Airways, Qatar, Etihad, US Airways, American Airlines, Jetblue, Air New Zealand, Jetstar Airways, Sichuan, Air China, Indigo, Turkish Airlines, Gulf air, Vietnam, TAM Brasil, Yemenia, Israir, Spirit, Vueling, TACA, Wizz Air, Shanghai, Hainan, HKG, MEA, and many more I've forgotten, it's good enough for PIA.

Actually Lufthansa and Gulf Air's A320 fleet all use CFM engines. Lufthansa's A321's have V2500. Also I heard that the V2500 has better debris ingestion as compared to the CFM and seeing that Shaheen's A320's also have V2500 engines, maintenance will be more convenient.

However I'm not sure that only 5 A320's is a sufficient replacement for what used to be a fleet of 7 B737-300 as well as being a supplement to 12 A310's. Augmenting/replacing a fleet of 19 planes with only 5 isn't really a big step forward. The fleet isn't growing, its remaining stagnant in size. They need at least 10-12 A320's.

[imiakhtar]

Actually Lufthansa and Gulf Air's A320 fleet all use CFM engines. Lufthansa's A321's have V2500.

I was aware of that. GF A321s have the V2500 however. The greater point being made was that over 40% of A32x built have the V2500 engine.

Shaheen's A320's also have V2500 engines, maintenance will be more convenient.

Doesn't make a difference what engines Shaheen has. The decision to go with the IAE was irrespective of what shaheen and airblue operate on their fleets and given that Pakistan lacks MRO facilities for CFM576 and IAE engines, the heavy work will be done outside the country. (There is no commonality between the CFM56 on the 737 classic maintained by PIA and cfm56-5xxx on the A32X)

However I'm not sure that only 5 A320's is a sufficient replacement for what used to be a fleet of 7 B737-300 as well as being a supplement to 12 A310's. Augmenting/replacing a fleet of 19 planes with only 5 isn't really a big step forward. The fleet isn't growing, its remaining stagnant in size. They need at least 10-12 A320's

Again, if had read my post properly here and i quote "PIA will be able to operate some semblance of a normal schedule", ie the A320 being inducted will cover any shortfalls in capacity due to overdue maintenance and grounding of some 737 and a310 aircraft. By no extension of the English language can my words have been construed to mean that the 5 A320s will be adequate cover for the combined 737 and a310 fleets.

[Moin]

Please confirm whether these engines are V2500 or CFM:

[Abbas Ali]

^ In those pics, Gulf Air A320s are powered with CFM56 series engines and Qatar Airways with V2500 series engines.

Abbas

[aerohead]

First set of pilots has left for Colombo to start their simulator. Two more sets due to leave for Colombo by the end of this month.
This is being posted on Palpas page.

[Moin]

^ In those pics, Gulf Air A320s are powered with CFM56 series engines and Qatar Airways with V2500 series engines.

Abbas

Thank you Abbas.

[Amaad Lone]

What number of pilots are involved in a set of pilots?

Are these pilots from the 737 or ATR fleet??

[A310]

What number of pilots are involved in a set of pilots?

Are these pilots from the 737 or ATR fleet??

A set of pilots contains 1 Captain and 1 First Officer.

These pilots are going from ATR although some who were planned initially for A320 even flew a couple of months on 737 because at that time it was not confirm whether they're coming or not

[raihans]

In case, PIA continues with A32x series in future then i think they need to order A32x simulator to lower the training costs.

[imiakhtar]

GF A321s have the V2500 however.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9PFr4OP_vjI/T ... 0212gr.JPG

raihan.In case, PIA continues with A32x series in future then i think they need to order A32x simulator to lower the training costs.

An A320 simulator costs in excess of $11 million. You could lease 2 brand-new A320s for that.

[ahmedshaikhani]

From the facebook page: A320 training seems in doldrums bcoz management was advised to stop the training and that was due to no financial transition carried out b/w govt and BOC but chairman assured that the a/c's are coming.So get ready for the news that "A320 NAHI ARRAHEY".

[Uzair Ansari]

There is something big fishy going on behind the curtains for sure . PIA has failed to provide flying allowance to the crew in the past 5 months and when they approached the management for their demand ,they were told either they can pay the allowance or they can buy the fuel for the airline .So eventually fuel was given priority over allowance obviously . According to my sources PIA is not buying any new planes at this pathetic state .If 5 Airbus A320's are coming by the end of May then they need to train a minimum of 40 captains and 40 First Officers ,And this seems impossible by looking at the planning and their pace .And at the same time PIA is giving Ads in the newspaper for new Cabin crew uniform design ....ARE YOU KIDDING ME ???????

[Moin]

To most of those who run this airline and are employees of this airline: They that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind.