Pakistan International Airlines' pilot roster under fire

The saga over pilot licenses recently reignited in Pakistan’s parliament amid concerns that flight crews have begun to leave the national carrier over hefty taxes levied on their income. According to a Senate press release, 15 pilots have recently departed Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), potentially jeopardizing the chances of a sustainable talent pipeline. PIA has petitioned the country’s supreme court in an effort to hire young males. Pilot certification became a contentious issue for Pakistan in June 2020, following remarks made before the National Assembly during a preliminary result hearing on PIA Flight 8303, which crashed in Karachi in May. Speaking with lawmakers, aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan claimed that of Pakistan’s 860 pilots, 262 had fake licenses. The allegations provoked intense political and media controversy and rippled across the industry, with many, including the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), questioning the validity of the minister’s statements. The International Federation of Air Line Pilots Association called the comments “on the brink of being reckless.” The PCAA Standing Committee on Aviation said it would create a subcommittee to probe the matter in detail. <br/>