Latest news with #EuropeanUnionAviationSafetyAgency
4 days ago
- Business
UK lifts years-long ban on Pakistani airlines after improvement in air safety standards
ISLAMABAD -- Britain has lifted a years-long ban on Pakistani airlines following improvements in the country's aviation safety standards, the British diplomatic mission in Islamabad said Wednesday. The U.K.'s Air Safety Committee imposed the ban after Pakistan's aviation minister in June 2020 disclosed that nearly one-third of the country's pilots had cheated on their licensing exams. The claim came after a Pakistan International Airlines crash killed 97 people on May 24, 2020, in the southern city of Karachi. Wednesday's announcement follows a broader international recognition of Pakistan's efforts to improve air safety. Earlier this year, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency also lifted its five-year-long ban, allowing the national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines to resume direct flights to Europe. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said that after 'extensive engagement' between the U.K.'s Air Safety Committee and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, restrictions on Pakistani airlines have now been lifted. U.K. diplomatic missions in Commonwealth countries are known as high commissions and are equivalent to embassies. However, Marriott said individual airlines will still need to apply for operating permits from the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority. 'I'm grateful to aviation experts in both the U.K. and Pakistan for their collaborative work to meet international safety standards,' she said. 'While it will take time for flights to resume, once the logistics are in place, I look forward to using a Pakistani carrier when visiting family and friends." The high commission emphasized that decisions on delisting countries or carriers from the U.K. Air Safety List are made through an independent safety process overseen by the Air Safety Committee. With more than 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the U.K., and thousands of British nationals residing in Pakistan, it said the move will help families to reconnect and potentially boost bilateral trade ties. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif welcomed the decision. Speaking at a televised news conference on Wednesday, he attributed the ban to what he described as 'baseless' remarks made by former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan. He said Khan's claim tarnished the country's image and triggered significant financial losses for Pakistan International Airlines.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Why These Boeing Models Need A Tail Stand At The Gate
What if we told you that some Boeing planes can lift their nose without anyone touching the yoke -- oh, and this can happen while the plane is parked at the gate? It's a very real phenomenon called tail tipping. Unlike debates over yokes versus side sticks, this has nothing to do with pilot input. The whole thing boils down to playground physics. An airplane on the ground is a giant seesaw balancing on its main landing gear. For everything to stay level, the center of gravity needs to stay forward of this pivot point, but it moves as people and cargo are unloaded. On some planes, particularly longer or stretched models like the Boeing 737-900 series, the margin for error is surprisingly slim due to design choices Boeing has made. To be clear, this is not the same as a tail strike, which happens when a pilot may take an aggressive angle of attack on takeoff and scrapes the plane's derriere on the runway. Tail tipping is a static, slow-motion screwup that happens when the plane is stationary. To prevent these graceful giants from unexpectedly tilting back, ground crews employ a surprisingly low-tech solution -- a tail stand. Often called a pogo stick, it's a sturdy pole placed under the aft fuselage that acts as a kickstand, physically preventing the tail from dropping. For aircraft like the 737-900ER, this isn't just a good idea -- it's often standard operating procedure. Read more: These Are The Best Engines Of All Time, According To You The Kicker For The Kickstand The kickstand isn't just a good idea -- it's the final, physical defense in a multi-layered system designed to manage a known design characteristic. For years, the responsibility for this system fell in a bit of a gray area of who was responsible for bringing the equipment into play. Starting in 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration has told airlines it is their direct responsibility -- no more finger-pointing allowed. This meticulous ground choreography is just an example of the highly specific procedures crews must master for these workhorse aircraft. The 737 family's long history has led to a host of unique characteristics that might seem counterintuitive, including the reasons why you can't use a Boeing 737's rear exits in a water landing. Recognizing that gaps can exist in interpretation, European regulators are now taking a more direct approach. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has rolled out new regulations that make ground handling companies formally and directly accountable for safety. The agency even specifically calls out aircraft tail tipping as a key risk to be managed by ground crews. This move from guidance to direct regulation shows a growing acknowledgment that as aircraft designs are pushed to their limits, the procedural safeguards meant to keep them safe need more rigorous oversight. Since We Know About It, It Can't Happen — Right? So, what happens when the procedures aren't followed, or the humble tail stand is missing in action? Simply put, gravity happens. As it turns out, physics does not care about flight schedules. A couple of high-profile incidents, specifically with the Boeing 737-900ER, show just how easily things can go wrong. In 2018, a Ukraine International Airlines 737-900ER fell victim to a perfect storm when crews unloaded the front cargo first but the conveyor for the rear cargo broke. As passengers departed their seats, the plane tipped. Another example occurred in 2021, when a United Airlines 737-900ER carrying the University of Southern California football team tipped over at a regional airport in Idaho. United, one of the U.S. airlines with the largest Boeing fleets, knows these procedures well, but the smaller Idaho airport reportedly didn't have the required tail stand. As staff and equipment were unloaded, the plane pivoted backward onto its tail. These incidents highlight that the safety system is a chain, and a single broken link -- be it a broken conveyor belt or a missing piece of ground equipment -- can bring the whole thing down. Or, in this case, pointing up. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Why These Boeing Models Need A Tail Stand At The Gate
What if we told you that some Boeing planes can lift their nose without anyone touching the yoke -- oh, and this can happen while the plane is parked at the gate? It's a very real phenomenon called tail tipping. Unlike debates over yokes versus side sticks, this has nothing to do with pilot input. The whole thing boils down to playground physics. An airplane on the ground is a giant seesaw balancing on its main landing gear. For everything to stay level, the center of gravity needs to stay forward of this pivot point, but it moves as people and cargo are unloaded. On some planes, particularly longer or stretched models like the Boeing 737-900 series, the margin for error is surprisingly slim due to design choices Boeing has made. To be clear, this is not the same as a tail strike, which happens when a pilot may take an aggressive angle of attack on takeoff and scrapes the plane's derriere on the runway. Tail tipping is a static, slow-motion screwup that happens when the plane is stationary. To prevent these graceful giants from unexpectedly tilting back, ground crews employ a surprisingly low-tech solution -- a tail stand. Often called a pogo stick, it's a sturdy pole placed under the aft fuselage that acts as a kickstand, physically preventing the tail from dropping. For aircraft like the 737-900ER, this isn't just a good idea -- it's often standard operating procedure. Read more: These Are The Best Engines Of All Time, According To You The Kicker For The Kickstand The kickstand isn't just a good idea -- it's the final, physical defense in a multi-layered system designed to manage a known design characteristic. For years, the responsibility for this system fell in a bit of a gray area of who was responsible for bringing the equipment into play. Starting in 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration has told airlines it is their direct responsibility -- no more finger-pointing allowed. This meticulous ground choreography is just an example of the highly specific procedures crews must master for these workhorse aircraft. The 737 family's long history has led to a host of unique characteristics that might seem counterintuitive, including the reasons why you can't use a Boeing 737's rear exits in a water landing. Recognizing that gaps can exist in interpretation, European regulators are now taking a more direct approach. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has rolled out new regulations that make ground handling companies formally and directly accountable for safety. The agency even specifically calls out aircraft tail tipping as a key risk to be managed by ground crews. This move from guidance to direct regulation shows a growing acknowledgment that as aircraft designs are pushed to their limits, the procedural safeguards meant to keep them safe need more rigorous oversight. Since We Know About It, It Can't Happen — Right? So, what happens when the procedures aren't followed, or the humble tail stand is missing in action? Simply put, gravity happens. As it turns out, physics does not care about flight schedules. A couple of high-profile incidents, specifically with the Boeing 737-900ER, show just how easily things can go wrong. In 2018, a Ukraine International Airlines 737-900ER fell victim to a perfect storm when crews unloaded the front cargo first but the conveyor for the rear cargo broke. As passengers departed their seats, the plane tipped. Another example occurred in 2021, when a United Airlines 737-900ER carrying the University of Southern California football team tipped over at a regional airport in Idaho. United, one of the U.S. airlines with the largest Boeing fleets, knows these procedures well, but the smaller Idaho airport reportedly didn't have the required tail stand. As staff and equipment were unloaded, the plane pivoted backward onto its tail. These incidents highlight that the safety system is a chain, and a single broken link -- be it a broken conveyor belt or a missing piece of ground equipment -- can bring the whole thing down. Or, in this case, pointing up. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
DW
4 days ago
- Business
- DW
UK lifts five-year ban on Pakistani airlines – DW – 07/16/2025
Britain has ended its flight ban on Pakistan's airlines, citing stronger safety standards. The ban cost national airline PIA millions after fake pilot licenses came to light in the wake of a deadly 2020 crash. Britain on Wednesday lifted a five-year ban on Pakistani airlines, allowing carriers to apply to resume flights to the UK after significant improvements in aviation safety standards. The ban was imposed in 2020, just days after a revelation that nearly one-third of the country's pilots had obtained their licenses fraudulently. The announcement comes after wider recognition of Pakistan's efforts to improve air safety. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency lifted its five-year-long ban earlier this year, allowing the resumption of direct flights to Europe. The ban was imposed after then-Pakistani Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan made the revelation about fake documentation. The scandal emerged after a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) crash that killed 97 people in May 2020 when an aircraft crashed into a street in the city of Karachi, which is southwestern Sindh province's capital and the country's economic hub. The British High Commission in Islamabad said the decision followed "extensive engagement" between the UK's Air Safety Committee and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. It said decisions on de-listing states and air carriers were made "through an independent aviation safety process." "I'm grateful to aviation experts in both the UK and Pakistan for their collaborative work to meet international safety standards," said British High Commissioner Jane Marriott. "While it will take time for flights to resume, once the logistics are in place, I look forward to using a Pakistani carrier when visiting family and friends." The lifting of the ban applies to Pakistan's airlines in general, but while several private carriers mainly serve domestic and regional routes — especially to the Middle East — PIA has historically been the only airline flying long-haul to Britain and the European Union. PIA, which once saw UK routes — including London, Manchester, and Birmingham — as among its most profitable, estimates the suspension cost it around 40 billion rupees ($144 million) in annual revenue. The carrier said it was now finalizing plans to resume flights "in the shortest possible time," beginning with three weekly Islamabad–Manchester flights, pending schedule approval. The announcement also comes as Pakistan moves ahead with plans to privatise its struggling national carrier, which employs 7,000 people and has long been accused of being bloated and poorly run. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said restoring UK and European routes would boost the airline's value ahead of privatization and signalled hopes to also revive PIA flights to New York. PIA was formed in 1955 when the government nationalised a struggling private airline, and went on to enjoy rapid growth until the 1990s.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
UK lifts ban on Pakistani airlines after improvement in air safety standards
The UK has lifted a years-long ban on Pakistani airlines following improvements in the country's aviation safety standards, the British diplomatic mission in Islamabad said. The Air Safety Committee imposed the ban after Pakistan's aviation minister in June 2020 disclosed that nearly one-third of the country's pilots had cheated on their licensing exams. The claim came after a Pakistan International Airlines crash killed 97 people on May 24, 2020, in the southern city of Karachi. Wednesday's announcement follows a broader international recognition of Pakistan's efforts to improve air safety. Earlier this year, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency also lifted its five-year ban, allowing the national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines to resume direct flights to Europe. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said that after 'extensive engagement' between the UK's Air Safety Committee and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, restrictions on Pakistani airlines have now been lifted. However, Ms Marriott said individual airlines will still need to apply for operating permits from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. 'I'm grateful to aviation experts in both the UK and Pakistan for their collaborative work to meet international safety standards,' she said. 'While it will take time for flights to resume, once the logistics are in place, I look forward to using a Pakistani carrier when visiting family and friends.' The high commission emphasised that decisions on delisting countries or carriers from the UK Air Safety List are made through an independent safety process overseen by the Air Safety Committee. With more than 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK, and thousands of British nationals residing in Pakistan, it said the move will help families to reconnect and potentially boost bilateral trade ties. Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif welcomed the decision. Speaking at a televised news conference on Wednesday, he attributed the ban to what he described as 'baseless' remarks made by former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan. He said Mr Khan's claim tarnished the country's image and triggered significant financial losses for Pakistan International Airlines.
