Today, there are only 300 airlines in the world that have this certification and PIA is one of them
KARACHI: The internationally-recognised International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) programme is used to assess the operational management and control systems of airlines. Airlines that acquire this certification are rigorously audited by an IATA-certified organisation that considers all operational aspects of the airline. IOSA standard covers all major areas of operations from flight operations, dispatch, cabin services, security services, ground handling, cargo operations, maintenance and engineering and organisational management and control.
Needless to say, IOSA is tough to acquire so imagine my surprise when I happened to learn that our national carrier is the only airline in the country that conforms to this certification. All too often, we are told that PIA is either suffering from flight delays or provides less-than-satisfactory services to its passengers. While it’s true the airline is dealing with multiple challenges that inadvertently affect its performance, credit must be given where it’s due. I think it is commendable that PIA has this certification — a testament to the airline’s concerns about the safety of its passengers. Today, there are only 300 airlines in the world that have this certification and PIA is one of them. This in itself speaks volumes about PIA’s concern with implementing international standards and following recommended industry practices.
The fact is that IOSA is a benchmark for global safety management in airlines and PIA’s qualification for this certification shows the airline’s commitment to aviation safety without compromising on operational safety.
Syed Nadeem Akhtar
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2015.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
