Pilots call off strike after assurance they will be provided PPE

By Muhammad YaseenPublished On 06 Jan 2023

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (Palpa) called off its strike after it was assured that personal protection equipment (PPE) will be provided to the cockpit and cabin crew staff.

On the other hand, standard operating procedures (SOPs) designed by the government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will be followed by the pilots.

The decision was taken after a meeting chaired by Aviation Secretary Nasir Hassan Jamy with representatives of Palpa and PIA on Tuesday.

Aviation Division spokesman Abdul Sattar Khokhar said the representatives of Palpa informed the meeting of their apprehensions regarding safety measures for the crew members in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The secretary assured the representatives that the government would fully implement the SOPs prepared by CAA.

The Palpa representatives assured the government of their full cooperation in bringing back Pakistanis stranded abroad, said the spokesman.

It was decided that the pilot-in command will ensure to their satisfaction the implementation of the SOPs issued by CAA.

A certificate will be countersigned and verified by a CAA inspector from the directorate of flight standards and directorate of airworthiness. The inspector will brief the captain of the flight about it. The flight will operate upon satisfaction of the captain.

The airline will ensure that the cabin crew and the relevant ground handling staff are fully briefed and trained. It shall also be ensured that full compliance to the SOPs is made at every level.

The meeting also decided that unwillingness of a pilot to operate a flight due to issues related to the pandemic will be informed in writing to the airline.

The airline will provide appropriate personal protection equipment to the cockpit and cabin crew members with immediate effect.

It was also decided that CAA’s directions of operations from designated facilities will be strictly followed.

Palpa General Secretary Imran Narejo told that they had demanded personal protection kits for the cockpit and cabin crew as they did not want to put the lives of their people and passengers in danger in the existing pandemic.