The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Tuesday said it was withdrawing a controversial plan to use its two turbo-prop aircraft for charter service.
CAA sources said that the Beechcraft King Air B-200 aircraft will be used for their original purpose of calibration. The aircraft are installed with Automatic Flight Inspection System, which is used for calibration purpose.
They said that the CAA had decided to enter charter service to make use of the aircraft as they have been standing idle since contracts for providing the calibration services expired. However, the decision was reconsidered keeping in view the problems private charter service providers would likely face.
Sources said that the initiative was bound to make the few charter flight operators bankrupt which are still operational.
“This kind of interference by a regulator in the market is unprecedented. It’s like State Bank of Pakistan saying it would have its own commercial bank,” said an official from the private sector.
Earlier, CAA had sparked a controversy over its decision to enter charter service as it not only caused concern among private operators but also left many wondering about the purpose of the new aviation policy, which is all about increasing participation of the private sector.
The new Beechcraft King Air B-200s, along with calibration devices, were acquired at a cost of around $15 million.
