-KATHMANDU
Himalaya Airlines’ Airbus A320-214(SL) ‘9N-ALV’ which remained grounded at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu since March, this year after bird-strike gets its damaged left engine replaced and is ready to carry out its test flight.
According to the source, the aircraft will undergo a technical ferry flight on Kathmandu-Delhi-Kathmandu sector on 28th of August, 2018. The aircraft will fly at 0410/0600 UTC with flight number HIM995 with landing gear extended at or below FL290 all the way to Delhi from Kathmandu to carry out a functional check of Free-Fall extension of Landing Gear and Functional Test of Normal Extension/Retraction of the Landing Gear and will operate as HIM996 at 1230/1420 UTC in Delhi-Kathmandu.
The aircraft had already carried out its normal ground run check at TIA after the installation of its dismantled engine on August 24 and 25. The mission will be carried under the Command of Capt. D.B. Singh. As the aircraft remained grounded for a long time, it is a normal phenomenon of carrying out the test of Landing Gear.
The aircraft had suffered a bird strike while landing at TIA on a scheduled flight on March 2018. The aircraft remained grounded after accomplishing its scheduled flight from Dammam to Kathmandu H9560 on 15th of March, 2018 as the CFM56-5 Engine was dismantled and sent to the CFM International Engine, the Manufacturer for the maintenance and overhaul process.
The frequent bird strike incidents have proved the safety of TIA to be vulnerable. So, the governing authority must find and implement effective solutions to mitigate wildlife hazard at TIA premises and enhance the safety.
