Part 4 of 6 B-707 articles series
Rafiq Jan
The 1960’s were an era of growth and prosperity for Pakistan. Back then PIA was ranked amongst the elite airlines of the world. It had the world’s top-notch training school that trained pilots, engineers, and cabin attendants for various foreign airlines. I still reminisce the days when PIA hired foreign pilots and cabin attendants to cater for the major foreign languages on her international routes.
My first step into aviation
The first jetliner I flew @ 18, back in 1979, was a wet-leased Boeing 720 with Rolls Royce turbojet engines, belonging to Aero America.
PIA, the first operator of Boeing 707 in Asia
Pakistan International Airline acquired its first B707-320C in 1960, wet-leased from Pan American Airline. Hence it becomes the first operator of the world’s newest jetliner that could fly across the oceans without in-route technical landing. With the induction of this jetliner, PIA started its historic trans-Atlantic operation from Karachi to New York via London.
PIA received 3 of its own Boeing 720s in 1962. It owned a total of 13 B707-320s and 9 B720s from 1960 till 1998. The last 707 cargo airplane retired in 1998.
Nur Khan was thus able to raise a young airline to a stature where it merited comparisons with the world’s top airlines.
Welcoming on board the U.S first lady
It was because of Pakistan’s warm diplomatic relations with the U.S that PIA flights used to receive special Red-Carpet reception at JFK (Idlewild) airport. This B707 of PIA also earned the honor of carrying the US first lady from New York to London. A pride that would have been too much for any airline to even dream of.
Under the great leadership and vision of Nur Khan, the Managing director of PIA, it thrived exponentially to make its mark in the international arena of air traveling in Asia, the middle east, and Africa. It also spread its wings of expertise towards Mediterranean and southeastern Europe. the honor of helping establish many airlines in the world with its proven expertise in maintenance and flight operation of Boeing 707s. all those newcomers of 60s and 70s thrived into big time international airlines. few names It had a state-of-the-art simulator, both full-flight as well as the Fixed-base in its Karachi training center.
PIA’s B707 Hull losses
PIA had an excellent Air Safety record during its glorious era of the 60s and 70s. one of its B707s crashed in 1979. It was B707-340C, registration AWZ. The cause was non-technical. It was reportedly a fire in the cargo hold due to a cooking stove belonging to a passenger.
End of part 4
The author is Aircraft Engineer, Author & Planes enthusiast
