KATHMANDU, Nov 3: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has brought another aircraft from China on Monday.
An 18-seater Harbin aircraft of model no Y12e E landed at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 1:50 pm today.
The twin engine turbo
prop utility plane is provided by China to Nepal on grant as per an
agreement to provide six aircraft on grant and concessional loan. The
Harbin Y12e is part of the loan and grant agreement worth Rs 6.67
billion for the procurement of six aircraft -- two MA 60s and four
19-seater Harbin Y12-E. The MA 60 provided on grant has already been
delivered and is flying in different domestic routes.
Though
China Aviation Industry Corporation formally handed over the Y12e in
July, NAC could not bring the plane as the manufacturer said it was
unable to supply an English-speaking instructor pilot along with the
plane.
The Chinese team along with instructor pilot is arriving
in the aircraft. “Once the aircraft arrives, we will soon begin the
procedure to obtain Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Civil
Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), a high ranking official of NAC had
said.
NAC is planning to begin commercial operation through
Harbin Y12e within the next 10 days if the test flights go well. The
aircraft will be flying to the remote areas of western region.
The aircraft had already received the call sign 9N-AKS from CAAN. NAC has named the aircraft Koili.
Earlier
China had sent an instructor pilot but as he could not speak and
understand English, he was sent back so the plane delivery was delayed.
An NAC official requesting anonymity said, “We are hopeful there will be no hassles in documentation this time.”
NAC
management had decided not to bring the aircraft without an English
speaking instructor pilot as the aircraft without an instructor cannot
be flown. As the NAC pilots do not have training to fly Chinese
aircraft, Nepal had to depend on China for instructor pilot. Harbin
Y12-E is a new type of aircraft for Nepal.
- Source: http://www.myrepublica.com
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