The six-member committee is led by Suresh Acharya, joint secretary at the Aviation Industry Management Division of MoCTCA. Other members of the committee are joint secretary of Aviation Security and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Supervision Division , deputy director general-2 of CAAN, director of operation division, director of engineering division and deputy director of Nepal Airlines Corporation."We will soon prepare Terms of Reference (ToR) and start our work. The committee will finding out exact problems with the aircraft and discuss them with concern stakeholders to solve those problems," said Acharya.
The committee will decide whether or not to take delivery of remaining aircraft -- three Harbin Y12E and a Modern Ark (MA) 60 -- and what to do with the existing Y12E and an MA 60.
Citing various problems with the aircraft, NAC board had earlier written to MoCTCA that the national flag carrier was not in a position to operate them. Later, the board told its parent ministry that NAC was facing heavy loss due to problematic Chinese aircraft.
"If we look at the business angle, the Chinese aircraft is not viable to operate as its operation cost is too high and there are various problems associated with it," Sugat Ratna Kansakar, managing director of NAC, said.
HAC has been facing various problems like landing and take-off weight due to which the aircraft cannot carry passengers as per their capacity. Similarly, expensive spare parts, problem in delivery of aircraft, high insurance premium, and language barrier with Chinese pilots and technician are the other problems that NAC has been facing.
Insurance premium of Chinese aircraft is comparatively high compared to other aircraft as they only have local certification -- only from Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) -- national aviation authority of United States -- and European Aviation Safety agency (EASA) have not certified these aircraft.
At present, NAC is paying Rs 330,666 per day as insurance premium for two Chinese aircraft.
Talking to Republica, Acharya said that the committee will hold discussion with officials from Chinese Embassy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Supplies and other stakeholders in the first phase. "We will then meet officials of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and other related agencies to solve the problems as soon as possible," he added.
NAC took delivery of MA 60 in April 27 and Y12E on November 3. China had given these aircraft on grant, while it has arranged soft loans for other four aircraft.
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