Kathmandu, Jan.6:The government today grounded three private airlines aircraft operating with their flight safety equipment out of order.
In a surprise check monitored by Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadhar, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, this afternoon a high level team of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) denied three Lukla bound flights of Shangrila Air, Lumbini Airways and Flight Care Service.
The 9N-AFR Twin Otter of Shangrila Air, that was about to take off as a chartered flight, was grounded since its navigation equipment and other apparatus that checks the condition of other equipment in the aircraft were found to have become non-functional, read a press release of the CAAN.
Same was the case with the 9N-AFA Twin Otter of Lumbini Airways that did not have its Directional Gyro working properly as well.
The 9N-AFO Y12 (Chinese Aircraft) of Flight Care Service was found carrying a uncertified first aid kit and its crew oxygen bottle did not have enough oxygen.
The surprise check today also found other flights not operating in line with safety regulations but allowed them to take off after necessary correction. Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation’s 9N ABU Twin Otter was found carrying 426 pound additional weight than the prescribed limit.
“The responsible staff of the marketing management of the airlines has been removed from the job and necessary actions will be initiated against him,” read the press release of CAAN.
The 9N-AEW Beechcraft of Buddha Air, that was inspected prior to its take off for Pokhara, was found not carrying its technical papers including weight and balance and maintenance release certificate. Inspectors also found that the instrumental rating validity in the co-pilot’s license had expired. “The aircraft was allowed to take off only after the co-pilot was removed from the flight and the necessary technical papers were made available,” CAAN said in its press statement.
Gorkha Airline’s 9N-AEO Dornier, Necon Air’s 9N-AFD Avro and Yeti Airline’s 9N-AFD Twin Otter were allowed to take off after operators corrected minor hitches pointed out by the inspection team.
The surprise check of CAAN’s high level official comes following the authority’s recently held executive board meeting that decided to make on-the-spot inspection to check whether or not air operators follow safety regulations prepared under Flight Safety Enhancement package.
“Today’s findings of the safety-compromises show that the inspection has to be more effective,” said Minister Gachchhadar. “There will be strict regular monitoring of such inspections as well. After the warning, if the operators do not make necessary corrections, their operating licenses will be cancelled.”
If aircraft are found to be under operation with safety compromises, said Gachchhadar, actions will be taken against both the operators and responsible CAAN officials.
Surprise checks like that of today’s have been taking place regularly, according to Nagendra Prasad Ghimire, Director General of CAAN. “These checks are apart from the routine checks we perform.”