Prioritising safety

Following two tragic airline accidents in less than two years, several near-misses and regular flight delays, the Civil Aviation Authority has said it will carry out inspections on all passenger airplanes being used by private airlines.
While the move is a welcome one, it remains to be seen how thorough these checks will be and if any irregularities and technical problems are found with the planes, how the CAA will deal with them.
The aviation body has said it will not carry out checks on the national carrier Pakistan International Airlines since it underwent checks a few months ago. However, it must also be remembered that the European Union has previously banned PIA from operating in its airspace and the national carrier faces the same threat again.
The aviation body, as well as the private and national airline must do all that is needed to ensure passenger safety before allowing their fleet to be airborne.
It is also believed that several pilots hired by private airlines have worked past their retirement age but are still handed the responsibility of carrying hundreds of passengers everyday. How can the authorities ensure such issues as retirement age and fitness for flying are followed strictly by private carriers?
Apart from checks by the CAA, what additional measures need to be taken to make the flights secure?
Should independent bodies, apart from the CAA, be involved in carrying out these checks? Should the government seek international help in making flight safety the top priority?
How should the CAA’s standards be raised to rid air travel of the threats it faces in Pakistan?
Dawn.com invites its readers to give their views and suggestions.