ATR 72-500 (Aerei da Trasporto Regionale or Avions de transport regional) is a French-Italian aircraft and absolutely safe and airworthy, said PIA spokesman Amir Memon here on Tuesday. In a statement, he said all aircraft before take-off and on landing require certain disciplines to be followed and it is global practice in the Aviation industry to fix duties and responsibilities for which Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are prescribed to ensure Airworthiness of the aircraft and safety of passengers.
He said that apprehensions raised by a certain section regarding ATR 72-500 are unfounded and uncalled for and with explicit intent to discourage the efforts being put in by the dedicated managers of the national flag carrier to regain a positive image amongst the travelling public. Balancing to the aircraft, loading of the cargo, boarding of the passengers are all actions supported stepwise for any type of airplane may it be wide-bodied, narrow body or smaller. Even the weight at take-off has to be according to the approved ceiling for which a trim-sheet is presented to the pilots for their approval before take-off. Approved or less weight also helps in saving of the fuel. PIA spokesman added.
Globally for short haul flights ATRs 72s and 42s are hot favourites of all major commercial airlines in our neighbouring country, Far East, EU and USA. The spokesman further said that over 1200 ATR 72 and over 1000 ATR 42 are flying all over the world with the same kind of procedure, so rest assured that following the SOP is only for fixing duties and responsibilities of the airline staff for the purposes of accountability and it is not an oversight of the PIA management while ordering these fuel efficient planes for providing better travelling facilities to the people of remote areas, economic-feeder routes of Balochistan, KPK, Sindh, Punjab, Gilgit and Skardu.
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