Shree Airlines, a reputed helicopter operator and a newly established fixed wing airline in Nepal is struggling to achieve Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for initiating commercial flight operation via its recently bought Bombardier CRJ aircraft.
Shree received its two Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft on April this year but both the aircraft are grounded following lengthy procedure of acquiring approval from Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). Likewise, the recently arrived CRJ-700 is also grounded. The company is bearing loss as it is paying hefty amount daily for resting its aircraft.
According to the spokesperson of CAAN Birendra Prasad Shrestha, “Entire officials from Flight Safety Standards Department are currently involved in International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) here in Nepal so, Shree Airlines should wait for some more time to achieve AOC.” There are no other reasons behind the delay in approval, he added.
Corporate Manager of Shree Airlines said, “We have been informed that the reason behind the delay in providing AOC from CAAN was due to the unavailability of officials from Flight Safety Standards Department. CAAN has ensured to issue AOC as soon as possible after the completion of ICVM.”
After Saurya Airlines, Shree becomes the second Nepali carrier to fly Bombardier aircraft. Shree plans to conduct mountain flights and domestic flights to Bhadrapur, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj and Dhangadi with its arrived Bombardier jets.
