May 12, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 6, 1429

ISLAMABAD, May 11: Only days after having been warmly welcomed into office, the new management of Pakistan International Airlines has run into trouble with aircraft engineers, who are becoming wary of their future because of some decisions of the management.

The Society of Aircraft Engineers Pakistan (SAEP) has convened a meeting on Monday to chalk out its line of action.

“The SAEP is aware of the unrest among the engineers with reference to some recent decisions taken by the top management and rumours regarding their future,” an office-bearer of the society told Dawn.

Professional rivalry between the aircraft engineers and pilots, one of whom (Capt Ijaz Haroon) has been made the new managing director, could be one of the factors behind the brewing crisis.

The engineers had crippled PIA’s air traffic last year over pay and working conditions disputes with the management.

The current distrust began with differences over upcoming appointments to senior posts in the engineering wing and a new directive concerning post-release handling of the aircraft.

The grievances of the engineers also stemmed from Capt Haroon’s criticism of the engineering wing at his introductory meeting with the airline’s associations and unannounced downsizing by the new management, which has fired 15 senior executives and is rumoured to be preparing to sack several others.

“There were certain technical problems and were not meant for anyone to take offence,” Capt Haroon said when asked about the growing unrest among the engineers.