Pakistan International Airlines

[lbaspotter]

The PIA Pilot Irfan Faiz who was arrested at LBA on Wednesday evening has pleaded guilty as its was heard at Leeds Magistrate court today that he was four times over alcohol limit.
He has been remanded in custody to appear before Leeds Crown Court on 18 October and I understand that the the offence carries a penalty of two years in jail in the UK.

Pilot Irfan Faiz was four times over alcohol limit

An airline pilot has admitted being more than four times over the legal alcohol limit just before being due to fly from Leeds Bradford Airport.

Irfan Faiz, 54, from Pakistan, was detained by police in the cockpit of a Pakistan International Airways Airbus at about 22:00 BST on Wednesday.

Leeds Magistrates were told Faiz smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet before the flight to Pakistan.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Leeds Crown Court on 18 October.

'Breached trust'
Faiz was charged with carrying out an activity ancillary to an aviation function while impaired by drink.

The court heard he was four-and-a-half times over the legal limit to fly.

After pleading guilty, Faiz was told by magistrates that he had "breached the trust of the public" and the consequence could have been a serious loss of life.

A spokesman for the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: "A pilot attempting to fly while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs is a major threat to flight safety.

"At UK airports the police have legal powers to test pilots for drink and drugs. Such incidents, however, are very rare."

 

[imagineif]

One very troubling issue (more so than the obvious facts of a pilot being intoxicated); is the fact it was reported to be ground staff/airport staff that reported suspicions to the authorities? This is what is reported by the media.

Does that then mean that out of the entire complement of A310 crew - Co Pilot & Cabin staff - not one of them challenged the Captain or felt the need to challenge him or report it.

Baring in mind that he was allegedly unsteady on his feet, stinking of liquor & constantly quaffing gum to try mask his breath. Police have confirmed he was over 4 times the legal limit.

I find it hard to believe that in transit to the airport or prior to arriving at the aircraft - nobody on the crew observed their Captains state.

There is a much wider more concerning issue if this is the case because it means a complete breakdown in CRM (Crew Resource Management) and a crew that does not function properly because it does not dare challenge the captain even with safety and their own lives at risk.

Incidents such as KLM/PanAm at Tenerife & British Midland Kegworth brought about CRM training to improve communication and displace the captains status as "god like" and encourage crew of all ranks to question and challenge when safety is in doubt.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

You make a valid point about CRM in such circumstances and cultural differences may intrude around the world.

It's often difficult to determine a precise chain of events from press reports. His blood/alcohol level would have been just above the legal limit to drive motor vehicles in the UK, much higher than that permitted in aviation-related activities in this country.

The BEA Trident crash at Staines in 1972 is another example of poor CRM, but that was more widely based because of differences of opinion over impending strike action, and the captain's health was also an issue.

 

[imagineif]

I shudder to think, thank god somebody had the sense to challenge him from the ground.

Well today it seems the PIA is only running 5 minutes late on the inbound. Fingers crossed for a much smoother operation this evening after Wednesdays fiasco.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Well the pilot has pleaded guilty the telegraph and argus is reporting... full article below....

[textarea]UPDATE: Leeds-Bradford Airport pilot pleads guilty to being impaired by drink


An airline pilot arrested at Leeds Bradford Airport has admitted to being more than four times over the legal alcohol limit.

Leeds Magistrates Court heard that Irfan Faiz, 54, of Pakistan, was spotted walking unsteadily and smelling of drink before he boarded a Pakistan International Airlines flight at about 10pm on Wednesday, September 18.

Airport managers contacted the police who arrested Mr Faiz in the cockpit of the Pakistan-bound aircraft, which he was due to fly, as he was making pre-flight checks.


He was charged with 'carrying out an activity ancillary to an aviation function while impaired by drink', to which he pleaded guilty.

Chairman of the magistrates bench James McAuley told him: "By your actions you breached the trust of the public who must be comfortable that when they travel they are safe to travel.

"The consequences could have been serious loss of life if an accident had occurred.

"Thankfully, the actions of the managers at Leeds Bradford Airport prevented that."

Martin Townend, prosecuting, stressed the gravity of the offence, stating: "There was a potential that the plane would have been flown by a drunk pilot".

He added that suspicions had been raised at the Yeadon airport when "a number of managers noticed Mr Faiz was unsteady on his feet and smelled of intoxicants."

He said: "He is 54 and effectively his career will be over which is, in effect, a punishment as is the shame he will experience when he returns to Pakistan."

The court heard that that Mr Faiz had flown with Pakistan International Airlines for 25 years with an unblemished record, and had no previous convictions.

But the magistrates decided the case was so serious it would have to be sentenced at crown court, and refused to grant bail.

Mr Faiz, whose British address was given as Oxford Street, Oldham - where he has family - will be remanded in custody until October 18, when he is due to appear at Leeds Crown Court at 9.30am.

Mohammed Rafiq Sehgal, President of Council for Mosques Bradford: said: “I find it unbelievable that a professional pilot of a major international airline could behave so despicably as to place at risk the life of passengers and colleagues.

“We will be raising this matter with the management of PIA and the Pakistan High Commission. We will ask for robust measures to prevent the repeat of this type of behaviour.

“The passenger safety must come first.”

Link to Article[/textarea]

 

[adam]

i heard a rumour that a member of checkin staff has been suspended too as she supplied him with mints when he checked in for the flight.

 

[lbaspotter]

Well it looks like PIA have learnt a lesson after last weeks Incident at LBA.

PIA Increases Pre-Flight Checks System Monitoring for its Cockpit and Cabin Crew

Lahore, 22 September, 2013 - To assure fool proof aviation safety in aircraft, PIA has increased strict monitoring of its Pre-Flight Checks System for both Cockpit and Cabin Crew with immediate effect.

Director Flight Operations has been assigned the task to personally monitor the Pre-Flight Check System on all flights with zero tolerance, this was stated by PIA spokesperson.

PIA Management has deplored the Leeds-Bradford incident in which one of its pilots was found in violation of aviation safety regulations. Though, the management has taken immediate action by grounding and suspending the pilot but to reassure its valued passengers a drive of strict monitoring is now in effect.

He said though, the Leeds-Bradford episode was an isolated incident but PIA is highly concerned about the strict monitoring of conduct of cockpit and cabin crew. It is to be assured that Aviation Safety Regulations which are already in place will be followed with high degree of certainty.

Director Flight Operations has instructed Chief Medical Officer to depute medical staff at all check-in points to ensure a fool proof monitoring. He has issued instructions to all concerned reinvigorating the need to implement safety regulations. Management has vowed to immediately suspend/ground safety rules violator on the spot which may lead to his/her termination from service, the spokesperson concluded.

Source: PIA Press Release (September 22, 2013)

 

[a300boy]

Showing to be early arriving today according to the arrivals board. We are always pointing out when its late so we should also point out it was early last Saturday and maybe today too !!

 

[lbaspotter]

Showing to be early arriving today according to the arrivals board. We are always pointing out when its late so we should also point out it was early last Saturday and maybe today too !!

Well that makes a nice change to see PIA been on time especially seen as they currently only have 23 operational aircraft out of a fleet of 34. Saying that I wouldn't place a bet on it departing on time.

 

[ls27]

I understand that PIA are to phase out the A310-300 aircraft by the end of 2015. There will be only 6 operational after June 2014. To overcome the shortage of equipment, there will be 10 A320-200s dry leased - 3 by June 2014 and the rest by March 2015.Some 737-800s will be introduced on wet lease shortly.. I wonder if this will sound the death knell of the LBA service, or an upgrade to the B777

 

[Bigman]

Sadly, I think it will be latter, ie bye-bye and off to Manchester we go.

 

[User0001]

The A310 international routes are slowly but surely being trimmed off.

AMS and FRA have gone, and they have just announced BKK and HKG are going.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Was away on the 18th October, what happened to the pilot who was before the courts on this date charged with being over the limit?

 

[channex 757]

More negative news regarding PIA. A cabin crew member reportedly trying to smuggle in heroin

Found this on the Telegraph and Argus website

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... map=%5B%5D

 

[White Heather]

The pilot who was over the limit got 9 months at HM's pleasure. So it won't be long before his back home as he was remanded in custody at the time I believe.

At this rate PIA won't have any crew left! You would think that after having a captain pulled up here for being over the limit, they would have more sense than to put LBA's customs and security measures to the test too.

 

[Jordan-34092]

The pilot who was over the limit got 9 months at HM's pleasure. So it won't be long before his back home as he was remanded in custody at the time I believe.

At this rate PIA won't have any crew left! You would think that after having a captain pulled up here for being over the limit, they would have more sense than to put LBA's customs and security measures to the test too.

I think he must have thought LBA customs and security would be easier to get through than likes of Heathorw..... Obviously he thought wrong

 

[Tarn Spotter]

I think the concern should be that it looks as if his guidance rules stated "He should not drink in the 12 hours before the flight" This basically allows the pilots to drink and be over the limit. Breath tests should be in operation.
I used to run a transport company, if I smelled drink on a drivers breath I sent them home for the day, I had the right to breathalyse, but just sent them home on full pay, cheaper then fighting the unions.

 

[LBA787]

PK775/6 will not operate tomorrow. I don't know why.

Anybody?

:crazy:

 

[stevolba]

Lack of bookings, the call came from PIA head office last week

 

[lbaspotter]

It always seems that this time of year/early December PIA tend to cancel a few flights due to low bookings. Not just LBA effected I understand it's network wide.

Bad news is that the airport will be opening Christmas day again this year. As I understand both PIA's A310 from Islamabad along with KLM's F70's from Amsterdam are booked into to operate.