The PIA Story – Excellence Resilient over Nepotism
(This is the SECOND and CONCLUDING article of the national airline)
That PIA has survived the likes of Asif Zardari is a story of excellence being resilient enough to withstand the vagaries of nepotism and corruption. Throughout PIA’s history many opportunists and self-seekers have undermined its efficiency and credibility but no one ever mounted such a sustained assault on the structure of the organization as Zardari did, he ruined the rest of the country in the same very unique manner.
PIA’s strong points are its pilots and engineering staff, despite the skepticism of many one may also make the same comment about the core of a very dedicated management cadre, at least for the most part. Which other commercial airline in the world flies such an old fleet of Boeing 747’s and Fokker-27s in such a cost effective and safe manner? Both aircraft have more than outlived their commercial utility by at least a decade if not more. This displays a tremendous inherent self-confidence within PIA’s staff about their own and each other’s abilities, that potential is a corporate asset of tremendous value. Barring a few black sheep among the cockpit crew as well as ground and flight engineers, the rating mark as to the performance of the vast majority is well above average. Some of the cockpit crew have unfortunately been politicized and since they frequently fly those who matter, a few also consider themselves “armchair experts” on geo-political and economic affairs, they should concentrate on improving their own professionalism and stay away from politics or enter politics full-time as a profession. Hopefully we will keep politicians and intellectuals from trying to learn how to fly an aircraft.
