KARACHI
The Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) decision to grant air cargo operations certificate (AOC) to a UAE-based airline company whose crew was banned in UAE for involvement in unauthorised flights to Syrian capital Damascus allegedly transporting ammunition, has raised fears in Pakistani aviation experts that such irresponsible attitude may invite international sanctions against Pakistan.
The company, previously named as Aerospace Consortium FZE owned by two Indian Jaidip Merchandani and Nithin Merchandani, managed to get permission in 2008 under the banner of Rayyan Air. Then CAA director general Nadeem Yousafzai issued the AOC and also facilitated registration of the company’s freighter aircraft.
Reportedly, Pakistanis with dual nationalities are the front men of the Aerospace Consortium. In spite of investigating the matter, the CAA issued another AOC to Merchandani-owned AHS Air International, which is utilising Rayyan Air’s aircraft for restarting freighter services as a non-scheduled airline with possibility of commercial passenger service. The ICAO and UN can slap sanctions on Pakistan for granting AOCs to new applicants without adopting evaluation and security clearance procedures.
The CAA functions in accordance with ICAO regulations, which is an international civil aviation regulatory body adopted under UN Charter to regulate aviation safety in accordance with international laws. Granting permission to airlines registered in India and owned by their nationals, involved in regular scheduled operations, is no cause for suspicion, because Indian Civil Aviation is regulated by ICAO. However, responsibility for granting AOC lies solely with state granting such permission and credentials of owners is required to check before giving consent.
Issuance of an AOC to the company involved in illegal operations can have disastrous consequences for Pakistan’s aviation industry. The European Union has recently banned PIA. The Aviation Ministry should be aware that Pakistan is suffering on the hands of terrorists armed with latest weapons which are smuggled into the country with the connivance of corrupt people.