LAHORE: The Pakistan Airline Pilots Association says it will go on strike if the management does not scrap its plan to hire pilots on contract.

`Converting pilots jobs into contractual is not only a safety risk for flying community but will put pilots in distress. We have decided to go on strike if the management refuses to consult us on this issue,` PALPA president Capt Amir Hashmi said in a statement here on Tuesday.

According to the National Transport Safety Board, the US, a pilot in distress or disgruntled over leaves, salary, compensation or domestic issues was a risk for flight safety, he said, adding all efforts globally were being made to involve International Federation of Airline Pilots` Associations (IFALPA) whenever a decision regarding pilots was taken by any airline.

Similarly, he said the airlines were supposed to consult their pilots` associations to decide over the financial issues, duty time limitation, job positions and office duties etc.

Capt Amir Hashmi said the Palpa was a bargaining body with a responsible role in aviation sector so it must be consulted on this important issue. `The pilots will withdraw extra cooperation with the management in the first phase before going on complete strike,` Capt.

Hashmi said.