PIA Issues Safety Directive Regarding Fasting During Flights.
PIA Advises Pilots & Cabin Crew to Abstain from Fasting During Flights. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has issued a directive advising pilots and cabin crew members to refrain from fasting during travel and flights throughout the month of Ramadan.
The directive, issued by the manager of the flight safety department at PIA, came in the form of a circular distributed to all cabin crew members, outlining guidelines regarding fasting during flights. Emphasizing the importance of safety, the correspondence highlighted that fasting while flying could potentially reduce the margin of safety, as per corporate safety management and advice from the aircrew medical center.
The circular explained that fasting may lead to decreased alertness and impaired decision-making abilities, which could have serious consequences in emergency situations. It further underscored the physiological changes such as hypoglycemia and dehydration, which could affect concentration, decision-making abilities, and reflexes.
Recognizing the religious significance of fasting, the document stressed that exemptions are granted for fasting during travel. However, it emphasized the responsibility of cockpit and cabin crew members not only to themselves but also to passengers and ground staff. Fasting while on duty was deemed as posing risks not only to their own safety but also to others.
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The directive explicitly instructed all fasting cockpit and cabin crew members to abstain from operating flights, highlighting that self-exemptions cannot be claimed even under state law. Compliance with rules and regulations was emphasized to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
