After two major air crashes in the last two years, international experts have been, once again, called in to identify problems with Pakistan’s aviation system and facilities.
A team of experts of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is arriving to look into safety and security arrangements at the country’s airports, sources said.
Earlier in April, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) directed the government to reinvestigate the AirBlue crash through an independent inquiry by international experts. The ICAO team will also look into the matter, sources added.
The ICAO team’s visit coincides with visits from two other teams that include experts from the Boeing company. The second team will address the issues related to the insurance of the Bhoja Air crash, sources added.
When contacted, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesperson Pervez George told The Express Tribune that visits by international teams are routine practices. He explained that air crash investigations are conducted by the CAA and the engineers of the manufactures of the plane. If a team from the Boeing is arriving, it is because their reputation is also at stake, he said.
However, George said that he was not aware about the schedule of the ICAO team’s visit at this point.
Recent incidents
The past year has been amongst the worst for aviation in Pakistan.
On Friday, two training aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) collided mid-air, killing four pilots on board and a civilian in Nowshera. The ill-fated Mashaq planes were on a flight formation training mission.
Earlier on July 28, 2010, Air blue Airbus 321 crashed into the Margala hills in Islamabad, killing all 152 people on board. Less than two years after that, on April 20, 2012, a Bhoja Air plane crashed in Islamabad killing all 127 on board.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2012.
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@Ali: We can do a lot our self for example: Hire our friend and relatives or favorites in critical & demanding positions. Celebrate a lot over unrealistic achievement of goals. Destroy public property and kill local innocents to show hatred for U.S. Look for a quick way to make money from any job given no mater what field. Look for dangerous short cuts for delays we created our self by starting late. Blaming everyone else but our self for our fate. Listen and believe in every gossip running around without thinking our self. In the end we can do anything but look at our own actions and habits.
Can we not do it ourselves?
We don't need foreign experts to tell us whats wrong with PIA. The billions that are siphoned off, if reinvested, will make PIA the best airline in the world.... again!
Thank You Boeing!!!! and please make the findings public. Call in the Boeing engineers for the fixes..and also can we create something along the lines of US NTSB? Come on Pakistan when are we going to wake up????? Don't you think your Diaspora living here in the US had been humiliated enough? Human life has a priceless value and please respect that. Agree with Meekal Ahmed 100%.
Also, could we also equip Pakistani Army Corp. of Engineers? It seems like our Army can not deal with these disaster on its own completely. How about building the Heli fleet for humanitarian missions? Just being a nuclear power doesn't solve all the problems. Army should focus on building these resources to help their countrymen rather than spending money on ISPR to shoot another tacky patriot song. Please wake up!!!
Call experts from overseas and each set of experts will tell the same thing that Pakistan is suffering from a cancer of corruption and nepotism, with no chance for competent people to hold any position of responsibility. Civil Aviation Department is no exception. Controlling this cancer from spreading any further requires the will and determination on the part of leadership but leadership crisis is the root cause of all crisis this country is facing, so no hope.
Good. Let them produce a report that we, the public, can read. Do NOT bury the findings and recommendations.
Actually they should produce a report and the CAA should have an opportunity to reply.
Pity no one is coming from the US NTSB, arguably one of the best air accident investigators in the world.
Just another story out of a million others which tells us the tale of Pakistan's disgrace.