KARACHI: A European agency took to the air under the festival wing of the local aviation sector on Saturday, rejecting a request to allow Pakistan to resume flights in the region even after a positive audit report from another international security organisation. , it turns out.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), in response to the national flag carrier's appeal to revoke the suspension, said it would conduct an audit of itself before lifting the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The EASA letter came as a blow to the expectation that Pakistan would again fly to European destinations by March this year.
Patrick wrote, "We are pleased to hear that ICAO has been able to address the significant security concern (SSC) raised following the USOAP activities against Pakistan Personnel Licensing (PEL) carried out on site in Pakistan from 29 November to 10 December 2021." Was." Q, to Arshad Malik, Executive Director, EASA, CEO of PIA.
"As you are right, the closure of this SSC was an important step towards potentially lifting the suspension of your TCO Authority (TCOA)," Q added in the letter.
“As indicated in our letter dated 31 March 2021, the evolving situation on the above mentioned SSCs has indicated a serious deterioration of the PCA certification and inspection capabilities. Such information will be taken by EASA while lifting the suspension,” the letter read.
"As you are already aware, since the suspension of the PIA TCOA, the European Union (EU) Commission has held formal consultations with the PCA and under the European Union Air Safety List (ASL) Regulation (EC) 2111/2005 several The meetings took place. With the active participation of the European Union Commission, PCAA and EASA. These discussions showed the need to focus on the overall monitoring capability of the PCA."
“Even though Pakistan is not listed in the EU ASL, these consultations are ongoing and in accordance with the Commission Implementation Regulation (EU) 2021/2070 of 25 November 2021, amendments to Regulation (EC) No. 474/2006, EU Commission Will continue to engage with the PCA and to monitor further measures and actions taken to address the situation in Pakistan, including through the outcome of the planned ICAO USOAP audit as well as an on-site assessment visit to Pakistan Are included.
Additionally, in accordance with Article 235(d) of TCO Regulation (EU) No. 452/2014, EASA shall audit the operator before lifting the suspension. Since deficiencies in state oversight were contributors to the suspension decision, such audits would have to include an assessment to verify whether these deficiencies were properly addressed and corrected in accordance with the letter.
“Further to the above article of the TCO Regulation, the audit shall be subject to the precondition that: (1) the third country operator agrees to conduct the audit; (2) the results of the determinations indicate that there is a possibility that the audit will result in a positive and (3) can be audited at third-country operator facilities without compromising the safety of agency personnel."
The letter further stated that with regard to element (2) above, EASA would normally have to evaluate the latest USOAP audit report to determine the robustness of PCA's certification and inspection capability and beyond the deficiencies caused by the SSC. .
In addition, in view of the ongoing consultations under the EU ASL, an on-site technical evaluation should be carried out with the European Commission, the agency said in the letter.
"Therefore, EASA will need further coordination with the European Commission to plan any missions in Pakistan."
It stated that in respect of element (3) above, EASA, with the help of the responsible EU services, would ascertain the necessary conditions under which EASA employees were authorized to travel to Pakistan without compromising their security.
“Finally, as you will certainly understand, activities on the site are currently heavily dependent on the COVID-19 pandemic and its daily developments,” the letter said.
Commenting on this development, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez said, "PIA has been continuously engaged with EASA since the suspension of the TCO Authorities in view of the licensing issues".
He said that EASA had prescribed approval for an ICAO audit of PCA as a precondition for reviewing its decision, which had been achieved.
"As a next step, and in accordance with Article 235(d) of the EU TCO Regulations, EASA will now conduct its own separate audit for state regulator PCAA and operator PIA before revoking the suspension," Hafeez said.
“We are fully prepared at our end and have confirmed our availability to send our team to EASA at the earliest possible time,” he said.
Sources who requested anonymity said this was already expected but people in Pakistan rang the celebratory bells a little early.
"It is expected that EASA can send its team by mid-February, which may be hampered by the coronavirus situation in Pakistan at that time," the sources said.
Following the ICAO audit report on PCA, government officials were quoted as saying that the pilots' licensing issues would be addressed by the end of March.
"The timeline is still intact, provided that things go as smoothly as can be expected," the source said.