KARACHI: ATR 72-500 (Aerei da Trasporto Regionale or Avions de transport régional) is a French-Italian aircraft and absolutely safe and airworthy, PIA spokesman Amir Memon said here on Tuesday.
He added all aircrafts before take-off and on landing requires certain disciplines to be followed and it is global practice in the Aviation industry to fix duties and responsibilities for which Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are prescribed to ensure Airworthiness of the aircraft and Safety of Passengers.
He said that apprehensions raised by a certain section regarding ATR 72-500 are unfounded and uncalled for and with explicit intent to discourage the efforts being put in by the dedicated managers of the national flag carrier to regain a positive image amongst the travelling public.
Balancing to the aircraft, loading of the cargo, boarding of the passengers are all actions supported stepwise for any type of airplane may it be wide-bodied, narrow body or smaller. Even the weight at take-off has to be according to the approved ceiling for which a trim-sheet is presented to the pilots for their approval before take-off. Approved or less weight also helps in saving of the fuel. PIA spokesman added.
Globally for short haul flights ATR’s 72’s and 42’s are hot favorites of all major commercial airlines in our neighboring country, Far East, EU and USA.
PIA spokesman said that over 1200 ATR 72 and over 1000 ATR 42 are flying all over the world with the same kind of procedure, so rest assured that following the SOP is only for fixing duties and responsibilities of the airline staff for the purposes of accountability and it is not an oversight of the PIA management while ordering these fuel efficient planes for providing better travelling facilities to the people of remote areas, economic-feeder routes of Baluchistan, KPK, Sindh, Punjab, Gilgit and Skardu.
(Image Courtesy: Aroosh Naqvi)
