While millions of people every day hope to safely arrive at their destinations, thousands of people suffer extreme injury or death due to airplane accidents. There are factually thousands of ways an aircraft can suffer a serious calamity, and thousands more factors that no one can foresee or prevent.

Even what appear to be trivial mistakes can have grave consequences at 30,000 feet. Minor deficiencies in the structure of the plane, or seemingly begin weather conditions, or a moments distraction by the pilot or ground crew member can turn even a short flight into an aeronautical nightmares. Furthermore, because there are thousands of planes in the skies at any instant they need constant monitoring by ground stations to ensure they are on the correct flight path. A simple error can spell disaster for not only the flights in the air, but innocent people on the ground as well.

An accident in relation to an aircraft is an occurrence associated with the operation of the aircraft, which takes place between the times any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until such time as all such persons have disembarked, in which:

• A person is fatally or seriously injured as a result of being in the aircraft, or of being in direct contact with any part of the aircraft, including parts which have become detached from the aircraft, or of direct exposure to jet blast; except when the injuries are from natural causes, or are self-inflicted, by other persons, or when the injuries are to persons secreting themselves outside the areas normally available to the passengers and crew.
• The aircraft sustains damage or structural failure which adversely affects the structural strength, the performance, or the flight characteristics of the aircraft, and which would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component; except when the damage is limited to the engine, its cowlings or accessories, or when the damage is limited to propellers, wing tips, antennas, tyres, brakes, bearings, small dents or puncture holes in the aircraft skin or the aircraft is missing or is completely inaccessible.

Although, it is difficult to claim damages based on negligence due to turbulence because of the following:

• Turbulence is invisible since it is an air movement, making it nearly impossible to predict;
• It can occur in the absence of clouds, one of the few possible indicators of turbulence;
• It is not detectable in radar; and
• The higher the altitude the more frequent is the turbulence.

An incident in relation to an aircraft is an occurrence other than an accident associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety of operation and shall include such occurrences as the Director General CAA may specify in Air Navigation Orders or by other means.

The Administrative Law Team members have a well-earned reputation for providing our clients with creative and effective advice and counsel in administrative law matters.

Our team is involved in all types of aviation-related work, whether in the context of a high-value contractual dispute with a manufacturer, the development of an airport, a re-fleeting programme or a major casualty. We deliver advice and know-how on all aspects of the aviation sector, including in particular:

• Corporate and commercial
• Finance and leasing
• Insolvency and restructuring
• Liability, accidents and claims
• Litigation and dispute resolution
• Competition
• Regulation

We assist to promote and regulate aviation activities and to develop an infrastructure for safe, efficient, adequate, economical and properly coordinated air transport service, project management, aircraft acquisition, consultancy in every field of public transport services and cargo.

If you or someone you know suffered injury in an aviation accident of any level of severity, you may have the right to take action against those responsible. You have the right to travel safely and when that sense of security is threatened, someone needs to be held accountable for their actions or inactions. Under the law, you may even be entitled to financial compensation for your profound physical and emotional trauma. Aviation law is extremely complicated and requires extensive organization, research, and understanding in order to achieve the justice you deserve. A knowledgeable aviation lawyer / consultant from Soft Law can help you navigate these complexities in order to find the closure that you deserve.

To foster and encourage the development and dissemination, of aviation law usages and practices in Pakistan within the legal, industrial, insurance and operational areas:

• To encourage and enable legal and commercial rationalisation and simplification of law usage and practice;
• To review proposed new legislation and amendments to existing legislation concerning aviation activities;
• To acquire and disseminate information on international aviation law and practice;
• To develop and encourage the usage and practice of aviation law matters in the legal profession and aviation industry;
• To disseminate information on and knowledge of aviation law usage and practices, both Pakistani and international by lectures, discussions, seminars, conventions and publications;
• To consider and make representations to regulatory authorities on matters of importance which may require changes to legislation;
• To publish and distribute papers, journals and books on matters relating to aviation law and activities; and
• To acquire and make available to members information on international aviation law and practice.

Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority is a Public sector autonomous body working under the Federal Government of Pakistan through the Ministry of Defence. It was established on 7th December, 1982 as an autonomous body. Prior to its creation, a Civil Aviation Department in the Ministry of Defence used to manage the civil aviation related activities.

In order to win substantial settlements from aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and aviation insurers all entities with vast corporate resources. Our law firm is willing to make a comparable investment in time and money. Successfully representing clients in aviation law cases requires high-level expertise in the many intricate aspects of aviation, as well as the relevant laws of each state or nation.

Every aviation law case demands tenacious research, technical investigations and innovative legal strategies and we have Lawyers / Consultants who specialize in Aviation law and can cater to all queries with respect of the area as mentioned.