Kathmandu, March 2

Ignoring Nepal Airlines Corporation’s protest, the government appears set to clear the deck for the purchase of four Chinese aircraft before Prime Minister KP Oli leaves for Beijing later this month, apparently under pressure from the Chinese government.

Ministry for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation today moved a proposal to speed up acquisition of a fleet of four Chinese aircraft a Modern Ark 60 and three Y12E that have not been certified by any international aviation body, including the Federal Aviation Administration.

Informed government sources said the ministry wanted to speed up the Cabinet decision as a pre-condition set by the Chinese for the prime minister’s visit. Beijing maintains that acquisition of the Chinese aircraft in question is long overdue and part of the bilateral deal signed in 2012, added sources.

The government’s move comes at a time when China-gifted MA 60 and an Y12E have proved to be white elephants for the Nepal Airlines Corporation due to an expensive insurance premium spare parts.

According to a high-level ministry official, the government must accept all four aircraft at any cost before the PM embarks on China visit on March 20. “There is an immense pressure from all sides, including the Chinese mission, to acquire all aircraft as per the loan and grant agreement worth Rs 6.67 billion signed with the Chinese government,” he said.

NAC’s officials are, however, surprised over ministry’s move.

According to them, a meeting of the NAC’s executive committee chaired by Managing Director Sugat Ratna Kansakar last week univocally concluded that NAC couldn’t handle more Chinese aircraft, as both China-gifted aircraft had proved to be a burden to the national flag carrier.

“NAC’s concerns should be addressed before taking any decision on purchase of new Chinese aircraft,” a member who attended the meeting told this daily.

According to him, the meeting also decided to draw government’s attention towards the non-cooperation from the Chinese manufactures - Xi’an Aircraft Industrial Corporation and Harbin Aircraft Industry Group.

MA 60 was bleeding the NAC’s finances since its arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in April 2014, as the 58-seater plane flies not even for a week in a month.

NAC has to deposit Rs 2.46 lakh a day for insurance premium for MA 60, while a 17-seater Y12E, which failed spectacularly on ‘performance’ issues at most airports with prior known characteristics, was also grounded time and again due to lack of instructor pilot.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has already decided to review the procedures of certification process suspecting foul play by its officials while authorising Chinese aircraft.

A team led by Joint Secretary at Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Suresh Acharya inspected the aircraft in China last month to resume the acquisition process. “Inspection team noticed a number of non-compliances with the country’s requirements,” a member of the team said.

NAC operates two Airbus jets, two Boeings, two Twin Otters and Chinese MA 60 and Y12E aircraft.