PIA 777s involved in ground collision
 

Leithen Francis, Singapore (16Apr07, 09:42 GMT, 201 words)

Troubled flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) still has one Boeing 777 grounded in Karachi under-going urgent repairs.

A PIA spokesman in Karachi says the wing of the Boeing 777 was damaged when it hit the tailfin of another PIA 777 while at Karachi airport on 13 April.
He says the other 777 involved in the incident has since returned to service but the aircraft with the damaged wing remains grounded and is under-going repairs.

The spokesman was unable to say when the aircraft will return to service and claims that having one 777 grounded “hasn’t really affected the schedule”.
But PIA had earlier cancelled services to five destinations in Europe and reduced services on some other European routes because of an EU ban.

The EU in March banned the Pakistani national carrier from serving Europe using its ageing Airbus A310s and Boeing 747-200/300s.

This has meant PIA may only use its eight 777s and wet-leased aircraft for Europe.

The services PIA has suspended due to the EU ban are those to Amsterdam, Athens, Glasgow, Frankfurt and Rome, according to details on the airline’s website.

PIA’s spokesman was unable to provide the registration details for the 777s damaged on the ground.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news

Just wondering, is this purely because of aircraft age and the reliability issues associated with it? OR any other reasons?

The PIA 747s on the approach to Manchester used to be a regular sight over my house.

The outbound PIA from Manchester used to be a regular feature when I lived in Lymm - Sunday afternon's as I recall. It's climb performance was abysmal and it was the lowest and noisiest thing around.

:sad:

Ah yes. So PIA are unable to use their own aircraft (apart from the 777s), which are at least maintained and crewed by their own substantial and established organisation, but are allowed to carry on by wet leasing in from Spognavitch Airways from Donglastan or wherever, who have no prior experience on the routes in question and no bases at either end of the route, without restriction.

Aren't bureaucrats wonderful ?

Rumour has it that the ONLY reason they were allowed to continue with the 777s was because - at least within Europe - they are looked at regularly by EASA state maintenance organisations. E.G. BA, LH etc. :suspect:

Such is the nature of the Sub-continent!

PIA used a Mahan Air A310 into Glasgow yesterday, we know how good they are!!-some useful approaches to Birmingham over the last few years taking off the rooftops. The whole situation is stupid, all tech issues are important and it doesnt matter how old the aircraft are-BAN THEM!!

Now was that a Mahan Air aircraft or the Saga Airlines aircraft that used to fly for Mahan and still has part of their livery on the tail? Said a/c flies to BHX five times a week. Reg TCSGC if you want to check it out.