KARACHI, Nov 14: The Flight Safety Research Institute International (FSRII) has said the flight time limit of PIA’s cabin crew should be rationalized and made comparable to its cockpit crew for flight safety.

A FSRII spokesperson, referring to a statement of PIA on the issue, said PIA should compare the flight time limit of the cabin crew to its cockpit crew as they were flying in the same environment and conditions as both were internationally-recognized safety personnel on board.

He said the maximum duty of 19 hours by foreign airlines’ cabin crew was the final limit set by their respective civil aviation authorities, but Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority had set it at 20 hours.

He said most foreign airlines cabin crew followed duty rosters of 9-11 hours, except long-haul single sector flights where they got multiple cabin crew and proper rest area to safeguard the passengers and aircraft. But the PIA cabin crew was forced to follow a roster of 14-16 hours’ duty, and even this the management could extend.

The spokesman said it was unfair to draw a parallel between European and American airlines and PIA as there were huge differences of flying conditions /environment and personal physical endurance between the crew/airlines of the developed and the developing world.

He said the PIA crew attached more importance to the passengers and aircraft rather to take an amount of Rs3,000. He urged the PIA management that instead of paying an incentive it rationalized the flying duty time for flight safety.