PNG Air gets approval from European aviation agency

The National Business

PNG Air has announced that its airlines maintenance division has been issued with the European aviation safety agency (EASA) Part 145 approval.
Chief executive officer Paul Abbot said that the approval came as the result of an intensive audit by EASA auditors, a review of all the airline maintenance, training, quality and procurement procedures and “a great deal of hard work from everyone in our maintenance division”.
“The approval now provides the airline with the ability to conduct maintenance on behalf of other airlines for the ATR 72, Dash 8 aircraft and some components,” he said.
“As a result of the approval, PNG Air’s maintenance organisation can now perform maintenance for any organisation that accepts the EASA approval and in turn gives those airlines the confidence that PNG Airs’ processes and procedures are of the highest level.”
With many operators in the South Pacific choosing the ATR aircraft for their fleet this accreditation provides PNG Air with the ability to source third party work in maintaining and conducting scheduled maintenance checks on these aircraft.
“This is a huge step forward for the airline in terms of recognition of the high standards set within the company in relation to safety and quality but at the end of the day it comes down to the staff on the floor who make the real difference and deliver this quality service,” Abbott said.
“This approval is visible recognition of their hard work,” Abbot said.
The European Aviation Safety Agency is the centerpiece of the European Union’s strategy for aviation safety.
Its mission is to promote the highest common standards of safety and environmental protection in civil aviation.
The agency develops common safety and environmental rules at the European level.
It monitors the implementation of standards through inspections in the member states and provides the necessary technical expertise, training and research.
The main tasks of the agency currently include:

  • Drafting aviation safety legislation and providing technical advice to the European Commission and to the Member States;
  • inspections, training and standardisation programmes to ensure uniform implementation of European aviation safety legislation in all member states; and,
  • Safety and environmental type-certification of aircraft, engines and parts