Pakistan Airline Pilots' Association (PALPA) has decided to complain to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) about the role of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) in supporting the Aviation Division and PIAC in media trial of pilots without once thinking about their role in international community.
"We have decided to contact ICAO against the Civil Aviation Pakistan for facilitating unjust actions to victimise pilots who reported sick in the legal frame of ICAO's Air Navigation Order ANO, Personnel Policies Manual PPM, Operations Manual OM & PALPA-PIAC Working Agreement", said General Secretary PALPA Captain Sohail Ahmed. We are, however, anxiously waiting for such notices which are being trumpeted since Friday.
"The certificate issuing authority should first consult the aviation rules and regulations, because if the same is reported to ICAO the CAA will become a laughing stock while the international organization may decide to downgrade the Pakistani authority in its upcoming review," added Sohail. The aviation authorities globally promote a culture where the pilots are the best judge themselves to determine whether they can fly a plane full of passengers or will become a safety risk themselves.
Nowhere in the world the pilots are made a subject of media trial over their basic duty as calling sick is not a privilege but a duty in the world of aviation. Sohail further said that the Air Navigation Order's clause 7.2 clearly states "crew members shall not act as operating crew if they know, or suspect, that their physical or mental condition renders them unfit to operate. Furthermore, they must not fly if they know that they are, or likely to be, in breach of this ANO. Crew members also have the responsibility to make optimum use of the opportunities and facilities for rest provided and for planning and using their rest periods properly in order to minimise incurring fatigue."
Sohail said that the spokesman for Aviation Division has made Pakistan International Airline (PIA) and Pakistan a laughing stock in the world of aviation. "We also request to the media to get awareness about aviation to avoid falling for the Aviation Division's and PIA's propaganda," added Sohail.-PR