Game of Commission and Negligence in maintenance of Airbus Engine by NAC

The national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has been continuously leasing one on of the engines of the ‘Airbus 320’ aircraft since March 2022. Due to the commissioning of the leased engine, no engine maintenance has been possible. The engine that should have been maintained within 90 days has been under maintenance for 13 months.

With the delay in engine maintenance, the commission from the leased engine is being utilized in the Corporation’s management. The Corporation has been operating with the leased engine from the company responsible for engine maintenance due to a delay in engine maintenance.

The flag carrier has been enjoying the commission in the management commission with the company to which the engine maintenance has been entrusted. This has been supported by the Corporation’s management committee, as well as by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation (MoCTA).

Of the two Airbus 320 aircraft being used for international flights since December 2022, one engine has always been under maintenance. Despite delays in engine maintenance, commissions are being received for leasing and commissioning the engine.

It has been reported that the engine dispatched for maintenance in Israel on September 18 has not yet been repaired. An engine that was supposed to be repaired within 65 days has not received spare parts even after 150 days. It has been mentioned in an email received on February 12 that the no engine is available for NAC even to fly back the under maintenance in Nepal due to unavailability.

The aircraft has been parked in Israel for over a month since engine maintenance. The process to start on the day the aircraft will return after engine maintenance has not been confirmed, as it has been requested for passport from ‘Crew Member’. However, it is uncertain when the aircraft will return to Nepal after engine maintenance.

On this issue, MPs have also raised questions. Speaking in Parliament on Sunday, Nepali Congress MP Ramhari Khatiwada said that financial irregularities have been taking place under the guise of engine maintenance and leasing. He mentioned that the Corporation’s profitability has been affected by the irregularities that cannot be resolved within 90 days, let alone within five months.

This is how the game of engine maintenance and leasing unfolds:

On December 27, 2021, when an Airbus A320 of flag carrier ‘9N-AKW’ (Sargamatha) aircraft landed in Doha, Qatar, its engine broke down while parking. The aircraft remained grounded in Qatar for two months. The grounded aircraft in Qatar began using leased engines in March 2022. The Corporation leased engines from MTU at a daily rate of $2,000, $278 per hour, and $239 per cycle to fly the aircraft.

While the aircraft was flying with the leased engine, another engine malfunctioned on July 30, 2022. The aircraft was grounded until September 30. When the aircraft was grounded, the Corporation continued to use the leased engine on the same aircraft. Even though the aircraft was not flying, daily expenses of $2,000 were incurred for engine lease. The engine that was repaired on September 30 was used to fly the aircraft. The engine leased from MTU was kept in use on lease. However, the engine sent for maintenance had not been repaired even after a year.

In the meantime, another problem was observed in the engine of the Airbus 320 on July 17, 2023. The aircraft sent for maintenance in September 2022 had not been repaired until then. The engine sent for maintenance in 2022 was repaired only in August 2023.

On August 12, the engine leased for rent was used to fly the aircraft instead of the engine under maintenance. However, at that time, another engine of ‘9N-AKW’ aircraft was grounded due to problems.

During that time, the Corporation continued to use the engine leased for rent on the same aircraft. The agreement for the engine leased earlier was terminated within 528 days. The termination had a secret, setting up for engine maintenance with the company responsible for engine maintenance in Israel.

During that time, a note was sent to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for engine maintenance and leasing. The engine that malfunctioned on July 17 was sent to Israel on September 30 for maintenance. After ten days of sending it to Israel, the aircraft was flown using the leased engine for rent.

Again, another problem was seen in the engine of ‘9N-AKW’. The aircraft was grounded from November 30. However, even after 65 days, the engine that was supposed to be repaired has not been repaired yet. The aircraft was sent to Israel on November 30 without engine maintenance.

The same aircraft is still grounded in Israel. The engine sent for maintenance on September 30 was supposed to be repaired within 65 days, but now it has been 150 days and parts have not been received, and there has been a delay in engine maintenance.

After the engine maintenance, the obligation to use the leased engine for rent on the aircraft remains. Because another engine of ‘9N-AKW’ has been grounded since November 30 due to problems.

The issue of negligence in engine maintenance is also associated with safety. If we look at the sequence of engine maintenance, the engine that malfunctioned in November 2023 is also certain not to be repaired in 2024. This has affected the Corporation’s flight schedule.

The issue of negligence in engine maintenance is also associated with safety. Engine leasing has always been used on the aircraft while engine maintenance is not done. This has resulted in additional financial burden on the Corporation, with monthly revenue decreasing by more than 30 crores.