IFALPA expresses concerns over Pakistan aviation safety

Concerns are related to overburdened air traffic control system, lack of independent safety board.

KARACHI: The International Federation of Air Line Pilots Association (IFALPA) expressed concerns over aviation safety in Pakistan and asked President Asif Ali Zardari to establish an independent transportation safety board for thorough, scientific and unbiased investigations into air accidents.

"There are concerns over the unhealthy close relationship between Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the airline operator, lack of an independent transportation safety board, imposition of sanctions against pilots reporting safety-related problems, poor cockpit resource management (CRM) in some companies and an overburdened air traffic control system that is not just a concern to pilots in Pakistan but also to those overflying," said the IFALPA in a letter to Zardari.

President IFALPA Captain Don Wykof said that the "federation is gravely concerned over the aviation safety issues brought to our attention by the Pakistan Air Line Pilots Association (PALPA) - IFALPA member association. These concerns stem from the recent incidents and accidents including the Air Blue accident in 2010 and the most recent one - the Bhoja Air plane crash."

The IFALPA represents over 100,000 professional pilots in more than 100 countries and is one of the few organisations that enjoy observer status at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

As the IFALPA is currently meeting in Paris for its annual conference, Captain Wykof said that "they will discuss with the PALPA representatives their concerns over the situation in Pakistan"

"We share common goal in seeing Pakistan achieving highest levels of aviation safety; we know PALPA also shares this goal and is fully prepared to engage with regulators and operators to move forward in this vital area", Captain Wykof said.