Boeing 757 ‘9N-ACB’ Gandaki of Nepal Airline Corporation (NAC) which was sent to Malaysia for repair and maintenance will arrive Nepal on Monday, January 14, 2019.
The engineering department of the corporation sent Boeing 757 ‘9N-ACB’ to Kuala Lumpur 46 days ago for repairing “thermal blanket” and “c-duct”.
According to the corporation, a c-duct brought from Malaysia was re-fitted last week after the c-duct shipped from America did not fit in the aircraft.
One official of NAC informed that the repairing work of Boeing has already been done. The permission for over flight from different countries should be taken as the aircraft has been grounded at Malaysia for long time which may take a few more days.
The corporation has been preparing to sell its sole Boeing 757. However, the corporation has plan to operate it, until it gets sold. The corporation urged not to ground this aircraft until the aircraft is not sold. if Grounding of this Boeing757 will decrease its value.
NAC planned to phase out the aircraft as its engine cycle is still good. The repair and maintenance of Boeing 757 reached an estimated cost of NRs. 15 Millions
The board meeting of the corporation had given a consensus agreement in April to sell Boeing. According to that, Fintech consultant company of Switzerland evaluated Boeing 757.
Fintech Company’s expert team from Switzerland had arrived Nepal to evaluate the Boeing 757 aircraft of the corporation. The company was provided 45 days for the necessary evaluation process. A few months ago, a report was submitted by inspecting all the technical aspects of the aircraft.
NAC bought two Boeing 757s in 1987 from an American Company and then operated it for more than 30 years. Out of two 757, one with registration ‘9N-ACA’ named ‘Karnali’ has already been sold to BB Airways. The corporation decided to sell Boeing 757 saying NAC will be operating international flights with its Airbus.
At present, NAC operates international flight operation with 5 aircraft (2 Airbus A320, 2 Airbus A330 and a Boeing 757).
Out of two 757, one with registration ‘9N-ACA’ nicknamed ‘Karnali’ has already been sold to BB Airways. The first Boeing 757 aircraft was sold to Nepalese private career BB Airways in NRs 170 Million few months ago. The aircraft still stays grounded inside premises of TIA with its future unknown. BB Airways had bought the aircraft stating it would use the aircraft to operate international cargo flights but the failure of the company to bring the aircraft back in operation ended the hope for it to fly again. As the result, the aircraft is now waiting to be scrapped after its 3 decades dedicate service to Nepal Airlines.
