Kathmandu, January 16:

After a series of technical glitch, the ailing national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), is now facing shortage of pilots who can fly Boeing solo.

“There is an acute shortage of senior pilots, who can fly the Boeing full fledged. Only 14 captain pilots are with the corporation at present,” said one senior pilot, without wanting to be named.

Agreed, K B Limbu, the newly appointed managing director (MD) of the NAC, “There are now only 14 full fledged senior captains. After my resignation — to be appointed as MD — the number is reduced to 14, which is not sufficient, if both Boeings — Gandaki and Karnali — comes into operations.”

Currently, NAC is flying only one Boeing, Gandaki as the other one, Karnali, is in Brunei for regular C check. “But its engine is in Beijing for maintenance,” he said adding that it will start to fly from March 30.

The newly appointed MD Limbu, who has spent his life with the national flag carrier, plans to operate both the Boeings in full capacity. But the situation is not supportive as the remaining pilots are also in a mood to quit.

“Seven senior pilots have already resigned,” he said.

“Its an expensive brain drain as the government has spent millions on the pilots,” one pilot, who left NAC, said adding that they do not want to leave but they have no choice.

In such a critical situation what is the new MD planning? “I don’t sell dre-ams,” he said, adding that he prefers to work to regain the national flag carrier’s lost glory. He wants to make NAC commercial airliner. Private, public partnership may be a better option, he said. “But not like Bansbari Leather Fact-ory and Harishiddhi Brick.”