PALPA History

In the Aviation world around the globe, all countries have their pilots Associations to protect their rights and interests, besides promoting professionalism and flight safety. In line with the tradition, PIA pilots have Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA) as the representative body. Through thick and thin and in extreme adverse situations over its 50 years long journey, the pilots have stood the test of time and sailed through all odds with flying colours.

The PALPA and its pilots have time and again proved their worth in war and peace. Through shear dedication and hard work they have shown their mettle and professionalism. Our pilots have flown daring missions in 1965 and 1971 wars, besides operating flights of sensitive nature during peacetime. PALPA role cannot be overlooked by any loyal countrymen as its pilots have flown billions of air miles all around the globe in all types of weather safely for the last 50 years. Its flight safety record is beyond doubt enviable. By the grace of ALLAH and through professionalism and high training standards, PIA pilots have flown innumerable of our worthy passengers through the skies in comfort and safety.

PALPA has a golden and novel history of its own. Its foundation was laid by a group of dedicated pilots specially who were the pioneers Pakistan Pilots’ Association (PPA) formed in 1954. We are proud that in spite of all the upheavals and various punitive measures, taken against it, we have managed to retain our original registration certificate of 1954. The National Industrial Relations Commission (N.I.R.C) registered Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA) under sub-rule 3, of Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance Rules) 1962 on 29th October 1976. The PIA management confirmed PALPA as the sole representative body of PIA pilots and issued an in-house recognition to PALPA.

On 15th August 1981, the Martial Regulation 1952 was imposed and all unions/associations of PIAC were banned and all agreements cancelled. An Admin. Order 32/81 dated 3rd September 1981 was issued to this effect. Presently, PALPA is a registered body under Societies Act XXI of 1860 dated 3rd April 1991. For its registration Director Administration at that time issued “NO OBJECTION” in favour of PALPA dated 22nd April 1991.

The Association had approved its PPA Constitution in 1954. Later on it was amended in 1966/67 by late Capt. Azam Jan who was himself a lawyer. The main clauses of that constitution still exist in the present PALPA constitution, which was amended and enforced in 1996/97. Our members who were the President or any other Executive Committee Member of the Association have rendered their services to the PIA management in various capacities in the Directorate of Flight Operations and other Directorates of the head office. We are all proud of their contribution towards PIA management, where they have proved their worth adequately.

PPA was recognized by and affiliated with the International Pilot Community and it became the member of IFALPA in 1956. Since then the Association is taking an active part in the IFALPA, except for the era of Martial Law of 1981 when PALPA’s activities were banned through a unilateral Admin. Order imposed under the umbrella of MLR-52. During its 50 years history PALPA faced many ups and downs. On numerous occasions a number of our members sacrificed financially, socially and professionally but PALPA has never looked back and has continued to grow. It has improved its technical know how and professionalism through continued and exhaustive exchange of views with international bodies such as IFALPA, ICAO, FAA and ITF etc.

PALPA is a democratically elected body of airline pilots employed in PIA. Its Executive Committee entrusted with the mandate and responsibility for the welfare of the pilots besides safe guarding the professional interest of pilot community. PALPA is also committed to implement the standards and recommended practices of ICAO and IFALPA. It maintains active liaison, cooperation and consultation with CAA Pakistan and international organization (IFALPA and ICAO) whose prime interest is aligned with the promotion of a safe aviation environment worldwide.

PALPA believes strongly that our passengers are entitled to the highest level of operational safety, and the pilots of the association have a commitment to contribute team effort required to fulfil this expectation to the best of their abilities.

All the working agreements signed between the Corporation and PALPA in respect of terms and conditions of employment of pilots, facilities, sustenance of seniority, benefits and privileges available to them have always continued in full force and effect unless otherwise modified or amended mutually by the two parties. These agreements suffered a serious setback whenever the association is suspended and governed by the Admin. Orders.

Under the Chief Executive Order No. 6 of 2001 dated 5th July 2001, all unions/associations and CBA’s activities were suspended and all the agreements were unilaterally cancelled. This was a big setback for the association and till the times of this writing, is still enforced. The unilateral cancellation and their replacement with Admin. Orders have not only caused numerous social and economic problems but have severely eroded the morale of all pilots who never shirk their work and do their best to operate flights safely.

As mentioned earlier PALPA is affiliated with International Federation of Airline Pilots Association (IFALPA) and International Federation of Transport Worker’s Federation (ITF). These are reputed international organizations, which help formulate and enforced aviation standards worldwide and PALPA is a proud member of these associations. (PALPA reps)

For our value readers we would like to apprise them a little about IFALPA.

The International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations (IFALPA) is made up of 92 Member Associations (countries) from all over the world representing more than 130,000 active Pilots, and its slogan is “THE GLOBAL VOICE OF PILOTS”.

IFAPLA is a Federation of Pilot’s Association. It is not a Union and is not a Pilots Association but a Federation of autonomous national units.

The focus of the Federation is primarily technical.

This allows its pursuits to address the core issues of a safe and orderly system of air transportation, through its various committees; namely:

HUPER – Humans Performances
Accident Analysis
Aircraft Design (ADO)
Air Traffic System (ATS)
Industrial and Legal Affairs etc.

This is in turn reflects directly in promotion of the Pilot’s upkeep.

IFALPA has the blessings of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) – a special agency of the United Nations to carry out research advents in the fields quoted above. This exchange of information through discussions on technical problems helps to promote the highest standards of Flight Safety in the Aviation Industry.

Pilots affiliated with the Federation act and behave just like an airline should. Information developed at this forum is a gold mine used by local CAA’s and major Airlines of the World.