PIA fleet turning into scrapyard: engineers

Engineers at the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have alleged that serious lapses in aircraft maintenance and a series of non-technical decisions by management have turned the PIA fleet into a scrapyard, reducing the number of operational aircraft from 34 to just 12.

During a ceremony held in Karachi on Friday, senior officials of the Society of Aircraft Engineers (SAEP) strongly criticized PIA management for its decisions.

SAEP Secretary General Owais Jadoon said the decline in the number of operational aircraft over the past several years was not the engineers' fault but the result of direct administrative negligence. "We will never compromise on the safety of passengers or aircraft," he said.

Jadoon revealed that the PIA's Canada operations were suspended because the landing gear of a plane had not been replaced in time. Although the airline was given three months to replace it, the management failed to procure the required landing gear.

Eventually, a landing gear was brought from Germany through a chartered aircraft, but it arrived without the necessary tools—leaving the aircraft grounded in the hangar to this day.

He further warned that due to improper and non-standard maintenance procedures being used on Boeing 777 aircraft, there was a risk of rendering the planes unserviceable.

Despite serious technical defects, engineers were being pressured to clear aircraft for flight, he claimed, adding that aircraft engineers were currently working under extreme stress.

Jadoon clarified that the society was not categorically opposed to the PIA's privatization.

"What we need is a permanent and responsible owner, who can come forward to rescue this institution from its current disastrous state."

Jadoon said the Certificate of Authorization would remain suspended until engineers were provided with a safe and professionally pressure-free working environment.