NAC is scheduled to send its Boeing 757 with call sign 9N-ACA for C-check -- an extensive periodic maintenance - in April. The aircraft will use the spare engine when its engine undergoes C-check and return to service, according to NAC officials.[break]
The national flag carrier on Saturday issued global tender, inviting bids from Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) service providers, to repair its spare engine which is currently lying idle in Hong Kong.
Ganesh Bahadur Chand, spokesperson of NAC, said only the MROs certified by Rolls Royce (one of the world´s largest aircraft engine maker) will be eligible to participate in the bid. “After evaluating the technical capability, we will award the tender to the lowest bidder,” he said.
The cost of engine overhaul is estimated at around US$ 3 million.
If NAC failed to repair the spare engine on time, it will be forced to cut down its international flights by almost 50 percent for about two months. Though C-check is generally completed in around two to three weeks, the process takes longer time in case of ageing aircraft.
“It will take around two months for an engine overhaul,” Chand said. “When the 9N-ACA aircraft goes to Israel for C-check, it will use the overhauled spare engine and return to service,” said Chand.
The C-check and engine overhaul is estimated to cost $6 million.
Boeing 9N-ACB grounded
NAC has grounded its Boeing 757 with call sign 9N-ACB after technical problems were detected in the aircraft.
Technical glitches were detected when the aircraft was preparing to fly back to Kathmandu from Doha.
According to an NAC official, it would take around a week for the aircraft to resume operation. “The aircraft was grounded after leakages were seen in hydraulic landing gear,” the official added.
However, NAC Spokesperson Chand said they were hopeful that the aircraft will resume operation by Sunday. “El-Al Airlines in Israel has already sent necessary spare parts to Doha for maintenance,” said Chand.
Currently, NAC is operating 12 flights a week to four international destinations -- Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Doha.
Related story
NAC in final stage of selling its Boeing 757-200 aircraft to Am...
