KATHMANDU, March 27: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has sought clarification from the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) on 27 points. The CAAN, the regulatory body of the aviation sector, has identified weaknesses in the performance of the national flag-carrier NAC and has sought explanations.
Jagannath Niraula, the deputy director-general of the CAAN, mentioned that CAAN has raised concerns about the NAC's weak internal audit. They have sought clarification regarding the measures being taken by the NAC to address issues highlighted in audits conducted by the European Union (EU) and CAAN on various occasions.
Deputy Director General Niraula stated that the NAC has been given seven days to respond, and emphasized that if satisfactory answers are not provided, legal action will be taken. CAAN has also questioned the frequent engine failures of the NAC's A320 aircraft and the absence of a timely plan to address these issues.
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Furthermore, CAAN has inquired why the TwinOtter aircraft '9N-ABX' has not been repaired for five years and why VHF installation on the TwinOtter aircraft has been neglected. Additionally, CAAN has requested an action plan from the NAC to rectify deficiencies observed during audits.
CAAN expressed dissatisfaction with the NAC's handling of hangar management, noting that officials prioritize aircraft parts procurement over fulfilling responsibilities. Niraula mentioned that CAAN has demanded clarification from the NAC regarding their obligations for air flight safety, warning of enforcement actions as per the 'Civil Aviation Rules 2002' if responses are inadequate.
Moreover, CAAN has criticized the NAC for leaving vacant positions in three departments and for prolonged vacancies in key roles like 'Continuing Airworthiness' and 'Maintenance Manager.' CAAN has questioned the NAC's failure to conduct mandatory maintenance on time and has demanded a response within seven days.
The NAC has been asked to clarify various issues including flight safety concerns, prolonged grounding of aircraft, weak maintenance of organization, and lack of a proper plan for engine procurement. CAAN has emphasized the importance of prompt responses, holding the executive chairman accountable for the airline's shortcomings.
