KARACHI: The Civil Aviation Authority has issued a show-cause notice to a Pakistan International Airlines pilot for violating air safety rules and putting lives of hundreds of passengers in danger.

Informed sources said that pilot Sadiq Amin Rehman (ATPL 984), who has also been a vice president of Pakistan Air Lines Pilots Association (PALPA), has been directed to respond within seven days or an ex parte decision — leading to suspension of pilot licence, imposition of penalty etc — would be taken, the CAA notice adds.

The sources said that Mr Rehman had operated a Canada-bound flight from Lahore without taking the mandatory rest.

The notice said that, “you Capt Sadiq Amin Rehman (APTL 984) did not avail minimum rest before operating flight on July 4, 2017, in violation of rules 202 and 240 of Civil Aviation Rules (CARs) and Air Navigation Order (ANO) NO 91.0012 issue 5 of April 7, 2011 relating to flight time, flight duty periods, duty periods and rest periods for fatigue management for flight and cabin crew”.

“You were issued ONCR No 559 dated July 18, 2017 for this non-conformance and your reply vide application dated July 25, 2017, was found unsatisfactory.

“Due to above act(s) you have violated the provision of Rule 202 and 240 of CARs and ANO01.0012.

“Now, therefore, you, Sadiq Amin Rehman (ATPL 984), hereby, are called upon as to why action should not be initiated against you under Rule 342 of CARs, 1994, for suspension of your licence or under rules 334, read with rule 372, of CARs for imposition of appropriate financial penalty, as the case may be.

“Your written reply must reach the undersigned within seven days of the receipt of this notice failing which an ex parte decision will be taken against you. Further, you may also state in the reply whether you desire to be heard in person or not, otherwise it will be presumed that you have nothing to offer in your defence and do not wish to be heard in person,” the notice added.

A few days back a similar notice was issued to PIA’s chief of flight operations pilot Uzair Khan for violating air safety rules.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2017