Now Buddha Air offers aircraft maintenance facility
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Aug 22: Buddha Air - the largest domestic airlines in the country - is marketing its aircraft maintenance facility, targeting South Asia and South East Asia region. The airline boasts of an international standard hangar in the premises of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) built at the cost of $2.5 million.
The airline decided to market its maintenance facility among airlines in the region after its hangar received Nepal Civil Airworthiness Requirement (NCAR-145) from Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) which gives it the recognition for aircraft maintenance as per international standard.
Rajendra Chhetri, quality assurance manager of Buddha Air, said the CAAN certification means Buddha now has international standard aircraft maintenance facility. “Druk Air of Bhutan has already taken our service. We are in negotiation with some Indian airlines,” he said.
Chhetri said Buddha Air was getting enquiries from international airlines even before it received CAAN certification.
“The hangar has saved our millions of rupees that would otherwise have gone out of the country. Now, we are hopeful of earning foreign currency by providing maintenance facility to other airlines,” added Chhetri.
Buddha Air has trained hands and equipment for complete maintenance of Beechcraft and ATR aircraft.
“We are coming up with attractive package. Our low cost and high efficiency will definitely help us attract many airlines,” he said.
Issuing a press statement on Tuesday, Buddha Air has also announced that it is applying for EASA 145 (European Aviation Safety Agency) approval for its hangar. “The EASA 145 certification will help us face growing competition in international aviation market,” the statement said.
The hangar which was inaugurated in mid-April has the capacity to accommodate up to an Airbus 320 or a Boeing 737. It is spread over 37,000 square feet and has aircraft spares inventory worth $9.3 million, according to the airline. The hangar is built on leased land for which Buddha Air is paying Rs 6.5 million to CAAN every year.
The airline has already shifted offices of ground handling division, security division, human resource division and general service division on the first and second floor of the hangar.
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Now Buddha Air Offers Aircraft Maintenance Facility
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