In a statement issued here on Saturday Captain Suhail Baloch said "these senior pilots, having vast experience and thousands of flying hours are an asset for the national airlines. We should take care of our assets instead of losing them after huge investment by airline on their training and grooming." Those senior pilots, he said, had professional license from Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and had unmatched professional skills which was far valuable than a degree. Besides, PIA, which was already short of flying crew, had invested huge amount on the professional training throughout their employment, he added. A pilot becomes truly expensive commodity when he/she acquired command of an aircraft, by then the airline has spent at least Rs 3.5 to 4 crores on training and grooming. After such a tedious process, the pilot gets certified to fly a Boeing-777.
"Ironically we are giving away this asset built over years to other airlines, which are not bothered what kind of objection he or she has on his intermediate or matric certificates acquired years ago. In the field of flying what matters most is the flying license acquisition and subsequent trainings. In case if the management/authorities want to punish the said pilots they will be rightfully doing so and Palpa fully supports the management in such a case but the punishment should not be dismissal as that would punish the airline only, as it will have to reinvest in new HR and wait for years to have such experienced pilots again while the sacked pilots will immediately get jobs in foreign airlines."
He expressed hope that PIA management would review its decision as per the recommendations of the members of National Assembly's Standing Committee on Defence and these senior pilots would not be sacked. There has been a precedence whereby three pilots and other employees have submitted the correct certificates/degree and have rejoined the airline.