Kathmandu, June 28

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) provided ‘Part-145’ approval to Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the national carrier, on Thursday.

Now NAC won’t have to call foreign engineers or take any aircraft to a foreign country for maintenance works. According to NAC, with this certification it now has the authority of maintenance and operation of aircraft components.

“Earlier we had to call engineers from China or take the aircraft to foreign countries for maintenance purposes. But now Nepali engineers can do it in the country unless there is any serious damage to the aircraft,” said Navaraj Koirala, spokesperson for NAC. He further said that now extra expenses incurred on foreign engineers will be reduced from NAC’s account.

“One of the most significant benefits of this approval is the financial benefit. The amount we have to pay foreign engineers will be saved and we can conduct aircraft maintenance at a very low cost,” Koirala added.

As per him, around Rs five million to Rs six million per maintenance visit will be saved. Moreover, skilled manpower of the country will also get a job in the country, he added. He said that maintenance activities will be started from next month.

Along with ‘Part-145’ approval, NAC has also received base maintenance approval for MA 60 and Y12E aircraft. As the national flag carrier has its own hangar now, it can conduct base maintenance that includes work done in a hangar with special tools and equipment if any malfunctions occur. “Every year we have to spend millions of rupees to call foreign engineers for the maintenance of aircraft. But now, we can utilise our own engineers at a low cost,”

Koirala said adding, “It will save time as well.”

At a time when NAC’s financials are not so good, this approval will help the corporation to save funds to some extent.