MD, PIA Muhammad Junaid Yunus emphasised that top most priority is exercised for Air Safety before departure of each domestic & international flights of the national flag carrier. He was speaking as chief guest at the certificate awarding ceremony to the successful participants of Air Safety Course organised by Pakistan chapter-Society of Air Safety Investigators (SASI) at the PIA Training Centre on Friday evening.
He said that it is heartening to note that SASI-Pakistan is a group of Pakistan based aviation safety professionals advocating "regional approach" for improving aviation safety in Pakistan. Japan and Pakistan are the only two countries in Asia having SASI chapters.
PIA is committed to aviation safety and would be fully supporting safety education by SASI. PIA has in the past also supported and sponsored a number of such seminars and workshops. The new avenue of safety training should be benefited by all stake holders and airline operators of the Pakistan, MD PIA added.
On the occasion while talking to the electronic media, MD PIA informed that by next week PIA would be starting flights from Islamabad to Saidu Sharif - Swat. Besides shortly, PIA flight frequency after November 2012 would be increasing on profit making routes and new destinations would be added to the PIA's international network. Informing about pre-Hajj operation 2012, he said so far 100 flights were operated carrying 41,645 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and flight punctuality regarding expected time of departure (ETD) from Pakistan and expected time of arrival (ETA) at Saudi Arabia was 94 percent. Both the 204 pre-Hajj and 204 post-Hajj flights are being operated by PIA's own aircraft which has saved dollar 9.50 million to the airline by just not leasing aircraft for Hajj operation.
Speaking on the occasion President SASI Pakistan Chapter Wing Commander Syed Naseem Ahmed (Retd) said that SASI Pakistan after Bhoja crash focus on two aspects, assisting the crash victim families and education of aviation community on air safety. Hence focused on to organize the present course initially there were some difficulties but as the course started we had to limit the participants because the international Councillors of SASI wanted to ensure a good instructor to student ratio. This course included participants from PIA, CAA, Pakistan Air Force, Air Blue, KESC and PSO trained in a practical approach to safety, human factors and accident investigations.-PR