At present, NAC operates two Boeing 757s and two Airbus 320s for international flights. Similarly, it operates a Twin Otter, an MA60 and a Harbin Y12e on domestic routes.
The national flag carrier has been forced to limit flights of newly acquired Airbus A320 aircraft due to shortage of pilots."As it is becoming difficult for us to manage different types of aircraft, we will acquire only Airbus aircraft for international routes now onwards. Airlines in other countries also operate single-type fleet unless they have 15 to 20 aircraft of similar type," Sugat Ratna Kansakar, managing director of NAC, told Republica.
Operating five different types of aircraft means NAC needs to have different set of pilots, engineers and spare parts for each type of aircraft.
Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) last year prohibited pilots from operating multiple types of aircraft. This made it difficult for the national flag carrier to manage pilots for its mixed fleet of aircraft.
NAC Spokesperson Ram Hari Sharma said the national flag carrier was facing shortage of pilots to operate Airbus aircraft as it is a new type of aircraft for them.
Seven pilots of NAC have already taken Airbus command training, while 12 are undergoing training for co-pilots.
Sharma said NAC is looking to hire foreign crew of five commanders, one instructor and four co-pilots.
NAC has already announced global tender to hire foreign crew. The national flag carrier has offered monthly salary of Rs 1.2 million to Rs 1.5 million to foreign crew.
"We will be hiring Type Rating Examiners (TREs) and Type Rating Instructor (TRI) so that our pilots will be trained and examined under their supervision. These pilots will be hired on contractual basis and this will help build confidence of our pilots so that they can fly independently," said Sharma.
German Instructor Pilot Christop has been flying the new Airbus since April. NAC has hired him for six months.
NAC TO EXPAND FLEET
NAC is soon beginning the process to acquire more aircraft to expand its market share. According to Kansakar, his first priority will be to add aircraft and for that he has already started talks with the management.
"It will take around five months to take decision and announce tender," Kansakar said, adding that they would acquired two wide-body aircraft and some narrow-body aircraft. "We might buy used aircraft too. We will decide on the type and age of aircraft very soon."
NAC plans to retire its Boeing fleet gradually. "As the Boeing aircraft have been used for many years and that their maintenance cost is very high, we are soon carrying out a study to decide whether to operate or replace them," added Kansakar.
He also said NAC will make a four-year business plan based on the 10-year business plan made earlier.
"My focus would be on adding new aircraft in every six to nine months," Kansakar said.
If his plan is materialized, NAC will acquire six to eight aircraft during Kansakar's tenure.
Kansakar has been appointed as managing director of NAC for four years.
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