KARACHI: The European Union has expressed concern over ‘systematic deficiency’ in PIA aircraft maintenance, termed Civil Aviation Authority regulatory role ‘unreliable’ and started carefully examining the situation before taking a final decision to ban the airline operations in its region, it was learnt on Friday.

Sources said this was communicated by the European Aviation Safety Agency to the Pakistan International Airlines.

They added that if a ban was imposed, this would be a second time that the national flag carrier would not be allowed to travel to EU-member countries.

While a final decision regarding the ban was likely to be taken in the aviation safety agency’s next meeting scheduled to be held in March 2012, the EU could impose the ban even earlier, the sources said. They explained that a EU teams in the meantime would examine in detail condition of PIA aircraft to ensure if they were properly maintained and their operation would not compromise air safety.European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Organisation Department Head Wilfried Schulze has written a letter to the PIA on the subject “formal consultation regarding EASA part 145 maintenance organization approval (MOA) No EASA 145.0004 PIA.”

The letter, dated Nov 11, 2011, says: “As part of the ongoing surveillance of Part 145 holders, EASA has accredited DGAC France to perform routine inspections on PIA on behalf of EASA.

“Due to travel restrictions imposed by Member State Foreign Services and the Commission Security Department, neither EASA nor DGAC France inspectors have been able to conduct on-site investigations of PIA facilities in Pakistan.”

The letter says that EASA had received statements from the PIA as well as the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority regarding the quality of maintenance work being carried out by PIA staffers.

It adds: “The agency had to learn that PIA aircraft subject to SAFA inspections over the last 12 months have revealed numerous maintenance-related findings. We make reference to the SAFA inspection reports AESA E2011 – 361 and 455, CAA N 2011 – 24, -38, and -46, CAA UK 2011 – 187 and -664, DGAC/F 2011 – 608, -878, -1138,-1370,-1560,-1811,-2084 and -2274, and finally ENAC IT 2011 – 569.

“In every single case, the class of action taken resulted in corrective actions before flight. It is obvious that all referred SAFA reports related to PIA aircraft on Pakistan register show a systematic deficiency regarding the planning and execution of the required maintenance tasks.

“From this we have to draw the conclusion that the continued surveillance by the CAA Pakistan is considered ineffective.

Consequently, we are not any more in a position to rely on the statement of CAA Pakistan as a mitigating measure for the continuing validity of your approval.

“Moreover, SAFA findings indicate the PIA quality control system which is responsible for the effective oversight of both national and EASA Part 145 approval has proven to be ineffective and does not meet the requirements of paragraph 145.A.65 (c) 1 of Annex II (Part 145) to Regulation (EC) No 2042/2003 to ensure that such procedures invoke good maintenance practices and airworthy aircraft / aircraft component.

“As a result, EASA finds that the mitigating measures put in place in May 2010 to monitor the continuation of your part 145 approval can no longer be relied upon. As a consequence, EASA has reasonable grounds to classify the situation as a potential safety threat.

“Based on the above, the agency intends to suspend your approval in accordance with Art 20 (2) (c) of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 in conjunction with paragraph 145.B.45 (a) of Annex II (Part 145) to Regulation (EC) No 2042/2003.”

The sources said that if the approval that related to maintenance of the aircraft by the PIA was not revalidated to the satisfaction of EASA, the national flag carrier’s planes might not be allowed to operate in the European Union which besides crippling the airline financially would also be a fatal blow to its credibility.

Meanwhile, the official journal of the European Union in its Nov 22 report says: “Member states shall continue to verify the effective compliance with relevant safety standards through the prioritization of ramp inspections to be carried out on aircraft of this carrier pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 351/2008 in order to confirm, or otherwise, the effectiveness of PIA’s remedial actions.

“Should, however, these inspections reveal that PIA actions have failed to address the identified safety concerns, the commission will have no choice but to act to contain any risks to safety.”

Responding to Dawn queries, PIA spokesperson Sultan Hassan said that the European Aviation Safety Agency had not raised any such issue with the PIA. He added that the PIA was not facing any ban threat to its operations in Europe.