Tag: pilots

  • PIA instructs pilots and cabin crew not to fast while flying

    PIA instructs pilots and cabin crew not to fast while flying

    A new advisory issued by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has instructed pilots and the cabin crew to not observe fast in the month of Ramzan during flights, reports The Express Tribune.

    The directive issued by the manager of the flight safety department at PIA outlined guidelines regarding fasting during the flights.

    It said that fasting can potentially decrease alertness and impair decision-making abilities, which could lead to serious consequences in the emergencies. It also said that even though it is technically feasible, this may reduce the margin of safety, as per corporate safety management and the aircrew medical center’s advice.

    The official circular emphasised that although fasting is a highly important practice in Islam, it disrupts the normal routine and can lead to dehydration, a drop in glucose level, and other physiological changes.

    The directive clearly instructed all fasting cockpit and cabin crew members to abstain from operating flights, highlighting that self-exemptions cannot be claimed even under state law. It emphasised compliance with rules and regulations to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

  • VIDEO: PIA pilots spot and record UFO above their plane in Karachi

    VIDEO: PIA pilots spot and record UFO above their plane in Karachi

    Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) pilots have spotted and unidentified flying object (UFO) flying at 35,000 feet above Karachi.

    According to ProPakistani, the “foo fighter” — a term used by Allied aircraft pilots during World War II to describe UFOs or mysterious aerial phenomena seen in the skies over both the European and Pacific theaters of operations — was a white round object above the jet which the plane’s captain noticed on Sunday.

    The flight crew immediately started filming the object and after landing found that similar sightings had been reported in the past across the world.

    The flight captain said that the round object had a metal ring around it and was emitting white light from the center.

    He added that it was difficult to determine whether the object was hovering or moving slowly due to relative motion.

    Sharing the video of the incident, UFO hunter and blogger Scott Waring said that PIA pilots had provided the most focused photo of a foo fighter in the history of UFO research.

    He added that it “proved that aliens follow planes and keep a close eye on human activities”.

    WATCH VIDEO:

  • PIA pilot, flight attendants, who brought 200 Pakistanis back from Australia, get coronavirus

    PIA pilot, flight attendants, who brought 200 Pakistanis back from Australia, get coronavirus

    One pilot and three flight attendants of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), who had performed duties on a special flight from Melbourne to Lahore, have tested positive for the new coronavirus — COVID-19.

    As per the details, the national carrier last month ran a one-off flight from Melbourne to Lahore to help hundreds of Pakistanis return home from Australia.

    With the country having blocked all international commercial flights since mid-March — a ban that’s now set to continue for an indefinite period of time — many of the country’s residents have struggled to find a path back to their homeland, making government repatriation flights a necessity.

    A PIA Boeing 777-200LR first flew from Lahore to Melbourne on Friday, April 24. PK8962 departed Pakistan at 5 pm local time, reaching Melbourne the next day at 10:30 am after a journey of 12 hours and 30 minutes.

    Allowing time for the crew to rest before the return leg, the Melbourne-Lahore flight, PK8972, departed at 1 pm on April 26, reaching the provincial capital of Punjab at 9 pm the same day, 13 hours after wheels-up.

    PIA’s Boeing 777-200LR jets can normally accommodate up to 310 passengers, but this repatriation service from Melbourne was capped at 250 passengers.

    Over a week on, reports say that three crew members of the special flight have tested positive for coronavirus.

    The crew members of PIA were earlier awaiting their COVID-19 test results and have now been shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Lahore. Among them are flight attendants Waqar Farooqui, Sofia Shaikh and Ahmed Ammad as well as first officer Shakil Akram.

  • CAA introduces new policy to encourage female pilots

    CAA introduces new policy to encourage female pilots

    Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced to empower women under the new Aviation Policy 2019 as the institution will bear half expenses of under training female pilots.

    The spokesperson of CAA said the institution will bear 50% expenses of female trainee pilots. The allowance will be given to the female pilots who have completed 100 hours of flying. The authority will directly provide the funds to the training institutions.

    Earlier in May last year, CAA had exempted aeronautical charges on domestic flights under a new aviation policy.

    The decision will advantage domestic flight operators
    including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as the aviation authority has
    zeroed aircraft landing charges on private airlines as well.

    In addition, the charges for parking, boarding, power supplies and terminal navigation, were also ended up. According to CAA spokesperson, the national flag-carrier’s profit will increase up to 70% after the suspension of charges and flight operators will be able to save Rs 4 billion annually.