KATHMANDU, April 4: Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is preparing to auction 11 old aircraft after operator failed to remove them from the airport. The old aircraft belong to different domestic operators including national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC)
Tribhuvan International Airport Civil Aviation Office of CAAN issued the notice in two different phases asking the removal of aircraft. The aircraft are lying east of the runway near the airport´s fire station and haven´t been operated for years.
The notice says all the aircraft are not airworthy.
The auction notice followed the decision of CAAN board to scrap the registration of different 13 aircraft. “Out of 13 aircraft, two operators have agreed to remove the aircraft and clear their dues,” General Manager at TIA Ratish Chandra Lal Suman.
CAAN published the notice asking operators to clear their dues and to remove eight aircrafts belonging to Yeti Airlines, Karnali Airways, Necon Airways, Cosmic, Flight Care Aviation and NAC in first phase .
Following the notice, Yeti Airlines agreed to remove its Saab aircraft from TIA and Simrik Air also contacted CAAN to remove its BK-117 helicopter.
Suman said bids have been received for two Y-12 aircrafts of Flight Care Aviation. Following two fatal accidents of Y-12 within a short period of operation, the remaining three Y-12 were taken out of from service.
The other aircrafts on auction yet to receive tender include a Y-12 and Avro of NAC and Fokker-100 of Cosmic Air.
CAAN is preparing to use one of the Avro aircraft for fire drill.
The second phase noticed published on Tuesday asked Cosmic Air to remove its four Dornier aircrafts and Nepal Airways to remove AS 350B helicopter. “We have given 15 days for owner or operator to stake their claim, otherwise these aircrafts will also be auctioned,” added he.
Although the evaluation of these dumped aircrafts ranges up to $ 172,000, CAAN officials fear some of the operator´s due might not be covered even after the auction.
Cosmic Air which is no longer in operation owes more than Rs 20 million to CAAN.
“The remaining due will be recovered from the owner or operators as per government rules if the amount from the auction fails to cover the outstanding dues,” Suman said.
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