NAC pilots abandon Airbus training halfway

KATHMANDU, JAN 27 -

Three NAC captains sent to France for Airbus A320 pilot training have returned back without completing the programme.

This means Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) will face a shortage of pilots to fly the aircraft that is scheduled to be delivered on February 7.

NAC had sent four senior pilots (commanders)—Deepak Narshing Rana, Maheshwor Man Dangol, Santosh Sharma and Rabindra Purush Dhakal—and two co-pilots—Sharwan Rijal and Nar Bahadur Bishwakarma—for the training on December 29.

Among them, Rana, Dangol and Sharma aborted the training midway and returned back on Thursday. NAC sources said the captains “found it difficult to abruptly switch from Boeing to Airbus”.

They have been flying the Boeing 757s aircraft for the last several years. The sources said Airbus has significantly revised its pilot-training policies, focusing more on flying skills. The month-long training programme costs around $30,000 per pilot.

When contacted over the phone, Rana declined to comment, but said it was due to “personal issues”.

NAC had faced a shortage of pilots when it received the MA60 aircraft gifted by China on April 27, 2014, that led to the aircraft being grounded for more than two weeks.

NAC Managing Director Madan Kharel said an inquiry committee has been formed. He admitted to a possible shortage of pilots as the A320 delivery date approaches.

He said the corporation is exploring alternatives. “We plan to hire flying crew on contract basis and a notice in this regard has been issued,” Kharel said. “Besides, we are also holding talks with leasing companies to hire pilots if we don’t get them here.”

Normally, a narrow-body jet requires seven sets of pilots.

NAC engineers, however, have completed their training successfully.

The corporation recently revised its pilot training manual amid increasing trend of pilots leaving the training halfway. Earlier such pilots got the opportunity to complete the training twice or more. But as per the amended manual, pilots returning midway have to go back and complete their training, or courses, at their own expenses.

With the arrival of the new aircraft, NAC will have to manage five types of aircraft—Twin Otter, MA60, Y12e, Boeing and Airbus. Hiring experienced pilots will be a tough job for the national flag bearer, as the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal’s mandatory regulation enforced previous year bars pilots from operating multiple types of aircraft.

SOurce: The Kathmandu Post