-KATHMANDU
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the national flag carrier has not been able to fly its new Chinese-made planes for lack of qualified pilots since they arrived in February, and had remained grounded in their hangars.
NAC had planned to bring Chinese pilot to operate Harbin Y-12e aircraft. Due to lack of capable pilot in Nepal, NAC haf decided to hire Chinese pilot who can communicate in English but the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) will be sending an official letter declaring the rejection of the NAC’s application for flying approval for three English-speaking Chinese pilots.
The new requirement of CAAN requires a pilot with frozen ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License) and valid CPL (Commercial Pilot License) to fly a multiengine aircraft while he/she joins an airline in Nepal. To obtain the ATPL, a pilot has to complete 1,500 flying hours besides receiving necessary training.
Corporation Managing Director, Mr. Sugat Ratna Kansakar said after the refusal of the Chinese Pilots due to the CAAN’s criteria we are presently planning to hire the SirLankan Pilots’ who meets the required criteria to fly Harbin Y12E aircraft.
With these complications, the corporation’s Y-12E series aircraft have not been able to conduct enough flights. Presently, the CofA (Certificate of Airworthiness) of both the newly bought aircraft are invalid.
The Harbin Y-12 is 17 seater high wing twin-engine turboprop utility aircraft built by Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG).
