Nepal to sign aircraft deal with China soon

[amoy]

Nepal to sign aircraft deal with China soon - Nepal Association of Tour Operators

The Finance Ministry, the Government of Nepal, has fast-tracked the process of signing loan and grant agreements with China to procure airplanes for the ailing Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).

The Finance Ministry's move follows the request from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to proceed ahead with the deal after the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) issued type-certificate to Chinese-made MA60 aircraft last week, allowing the plane to enter the Nepali skies for the first time for civilian transport.

China has pledged a 19-seater Harbin Y-12e and a 58-seater MA60 (Modern Ark 60) turboprop planes in grant, and the government plans to buy four more aircraft — three Harbin Y-12e and an MA60 — taking soft loans from the China EXIM Bank.

"We have to sign two separate agreements for loan and grant. We have sent the drafts of the two agreements to the tourism and the law ministries for their comments and language to be used in the draft," said Finance Secretary Shanta Raj Subedi.

He said the exact amount of the loan to be taken from the Chinese bank and the interest rate are yet to be fixed.

Tourism Ministry officials estimate that the four aircraft could cost $35 million for a combined package that includes spare parts and pilot training, among other facilities.

The Type Certification Board of the CAAN after a two-week China visit had submitted its report to its Director General Ratish Chandra Lal Suman in mid-September, recommending that the MA60 aircraft's technical and other capabilities compliances "are reliable". "We decided to proceed ahead with the pact after the CAAN confirmation that the proposed Chinese jets are fit for the Nepali skies," Subedi said.

Some analysts, however, have raised questions over the MA60's airworthiness as it has not yet been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR).

Sources said the Nepal government needs to finalise the deal before the end of the Chinese fiscal year. China's fiscal year begins from January 1 and ends on December 31.

(Source:ekantipur | Nepal's No.1 News Portal | Homepage)

Xian MA60 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Xian MA60 (新舟60, Xīnzhōu 60, "Modern Ark 60") is a turboprop-powered airliner made by China's Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation under the China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I). The MA60 is a stretched version of the Xian Y7-200A,[4] which was produced based on the An-24 to operate in rugged conditions with limited ground support and has short take-off and landing (STOL) capability.[5]

 

[Ray]

Great.

Nepal is doing well.

 

[Blackwater]

Well there no harm if Nepal gets copied version of AN-12 free from china

 

[amoy]

Nepal Receives First China-made Aircraft

A China-made air carrier, a 58-seater Modern Ark 60 (MA60), lands on Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, April 27, 2014. The long wait of Nepal government to receive the first China-made air carrier has been over Sunday afternoon with the landing of MA60 at Tribhuvan International Airport. [Photo: Xinhua/Sunil Sharma]

The long wait of Nepal government to receive the first China-made air carrier has finally been over Sunday afternoon with the landing of a 58-seater Modern Ark 60 (MA60) at the country's only international airport.

The aircraft that took off from China's Kunming finally arrived to the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu at 1:14 p.m. local time. The plane was operated by two American pilots.

The arrival of first Chinese plane in the Himalayan country from the northern neighbor has given a sense of relief to the Nepali stakeholders as the country's national flag carrier has remained with only one aircraft at the moment.

Nepal's Aviation Secretary Sushil Ghimire, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai, Chief of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) Madan Kharel and other high level government officials reached the TIA to receive and welcome the Chinese aircraft.

This is the first time that NAC has been procuring any new aircraft since it bought a twin otter in 1984.

"We are really happy at this moment," NAC Spokesperson Ram Hari Sharma told Xinhua by phone from TIA after welcoming the aircraft, "The plane is now under the possession of Nepal government which will hand over to NAC tomorrow amidst a formal programme."

He said the MA60 will come to commercial operation within a week following its test flight in Nepali skies.

Earlier on December 28 last year, the Nepal government had signed an agreement with its Chinese counterpart to procure and purchase six China-made airplanes, according to which Nepal will acquire two aircrafts, a 19-seater Harbin Y12E and a 58-seater Modern Ark 60 (MA60), on grant and three Harbin Y12E and a MA60 on concessional loan.

According to the NAC, Chinese authorities will dispatch the second air craft, a 19-seater Harbin Y12E on June 30, another MA60 on September 30 and all other remaining three Harbin Y12E on October 28 this year.

The NAC said it has begun preparations to ensure sound operation with plans to make direct flights to all destinations across the country. All of the China-made aircrafts will be used for domestic flights connecting a number of destinations, including Biratnagar, Pokhara, Bhairawaha, Bhadrapur, Dhangadi and Nepalgunj, directly from Kathmandu after one and a half decade of halting the operation in these destinations.

Xi'an Aircraft Industries Corporation is the maker of MA60, which was first manufactured in 2000. More than 80 MA60 planes are being used by several air service providers in many countries across Asia, Africa and South America.

 

[Ray]

AN 32.

Nepal is getting this slightly modified under a Chinese name?

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Sir, AN-32 is specifically designed for India in past with more powerful engines for short landing and take off at higher altitudes, The AN-12 is with lesser powerful engines for regular runways and transport, Chinese have there own set of engines for there own copies both civilian and military ..

AN 32.

Nepal is getting this slightly modified under a Chinese name?

 

[Ray]

AN 12

The Chinese aricraft

Now, which of the aircraft is near similar?

I write this without knowing hte specifications.

I would be obliged if my cobwebs are cleared.

 

[Ray]

Just checked again and the cobwebs cleared.

The MA60 is a stretched version of the Xian Y7-200A, which was produced based on the An-24.

An 24

Variants
Antonov An-26
Antonov An-30
Antonov An-32

 

[Kunal Biswas]

My Bad, Sir ..

What i meant AN-26 ================================ >>

After successful operations of the An-24T tactical transport in austere locations, interest in a version with a retractable cargo ramp increased. Initial studies for the retractable ramp were carried out as part of the projected An-40 medium transport. When given the go-ahead for the An-26 in March 1968 the Antonov OKB adapted the ramp design of the An-40 to the An-24 fuselage, thus was born the An-26. Particular attention was given to the military mission and the majority of early An-26 production was delivered to the VT-A, The An-26 is also manufactured without a license agreement in China by Xian Aircraft Factory as the Y-14, later changed to be included in the Xian Y7 series

Specifications >>
Crew >> 5 (2 pilots, 1 radio operator, 1 flight engineer, 1 navigator)
Capacity: 40 passengers
Payload: 5,500 kg (12,125 lb)
Length: 23.80 m (78 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 29.20 m (95 ft 9½ in)
Wing area: 74.98 m² (807 ft²)
Powerplant: 2 × Progress AI-24VT turboprops, 2,103 kW (2,820 ehp) each
Cruise speed: 440 km/h (237 knots, 273 mph)
Range: 2,500 km (1,376 nmi, 1,584 mi)with maximum fuel; 1,100 km (594 nmi, 683 mi) with maximum payload
Service ceiling: 7,500 m (24,600 ft)


AN-32 ============================>>

The An-32 is basically a re-engined An-26. The launch customer was the Indian Air Force, which ordered this aircraft partly due to good relations between then USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and then India leader Indira Gandhi. The An-32 is designed to withstand adverse weather conditions better than the standard An-26. The high placement of the engine nacelles above the wing allowed for larger diameter propeller, which are driven by 5,100 hp rated AI-20 turboprop engines, almost twice the power of the An-26's AI-24 powerplants. The price for a newly built An-32 was quoted as being 6–9 million dollars in 2000

Specifications >>

Crew >> 4
Capacity >> 42 paratroopers/50 passengers/24 Casualties on stretcher with three medical personnel
Length >> 23.78 m (78 ft 0¾ in)
Wingspan >> 29.20 m (95 ft 9½ in)
Height >> 8.75m (28 ft 8½ in)
Wing area >> 75 m² (807 ft²)
Powerplant >> 2 × ZMKB Progress AI-20DM turboprop, 3,812 kW (5,112 ehp) each
Cruise speed >> 470 km/h (254 knots, 292 mph) (econ cruise)
Range >>2,500 km (1,350 nmi, 1,553 mi)
Service ceiling >> 9,500 m (31,165 ft)


Xian MA60 ============================>>

The Xian MA60 (新舟60, Xīnzhōu 60, "Modern Ark 60") is a turboprop-powered airliner made by China's Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation under the China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I). The MA60 is a stretched version of the Xian Y7-200A, which was produced copy of An-24 to operate in rugged conditions.

Specifications >>

Crew >> 2
Capacity >> 60 passengers
Length >> 24.71 m (81 ft 0¾ in)
Wingspan >> 29.20 m (95 ft 9½ in)
Height >> 8.86 m (29 ft 0½ in)
Wing area >> 75.0 m² (807 ft²)
Powerplant >> 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127J Turboprop, 2,051 kW (2,750 shp) each
Cruise speed >> 430 km/h (232 knots, 267 mph) (econ cruise speed)
Range >> 1,600 km (864 nmi, 994 mi)
Service ceiling >> 7,620 m (25,000 ft)

Now, which of the aircraft is near similar?

I write this without knowing hte specifications.

I would be obliged if my cobwebs are cleared.

 

[Ray]

Kunal

Thanks.

That's a detailed post and very informative.

 

[amoy]

For Chinese MA60 here's an interesting case for study, which exemplifies how intense the competition is in the aviation market and how a government intervenes to help its indigenous airline in competition.

MA60 continues to strain Tonga-New Zealand relationship - Tonga - News - Islands Business magazine

NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga --- The Tonga government's refusal to bring an international aviation authority to certify the MA60 aircraft gifted by China, has strained Tonga's relationship with New Zealand during the past three months.

In October, the New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Murray McCully, reiterated that he would continue to withhold a tourism development aid package for Tonga worth around USD$8 million until the MA60 aircraft was certified by a respected international authority.

An offer by New Zealand to fund an aviation safety expert to come to Tonga and assess the MA60 aircraft was also rejected by the Tongan government.

Tonga's Minister for Infrastructure, who is also responsible for Transport, Samiu Vaipulu, told Matangi Tonga that he could not allow an third-party assessment because, "It will be bad for our diplomatic relations with China."

He said that considering the generosity of the Chinese to give Tonga a USD$15 million aircraft along with USD$13 million worth of spare parts that could keep the aircraft running for three years, "we will not do it, it would be like stabbing the Chinese in the back, we just can't do it, bringing in a third party to check what the Chinese have given us."

Samiu said that the Chinese had also offered to give Tonga two new Y12 aircraft, to enable Tonga's domestic air service to extend to the Niuas, and 'Eua. The two aircraft were scheduled to arrive in 2015, but they were negotiating with the hope of having the first Y12 aircraft arrive in Tonga in May next year.

Samiu said they had made contact with China's Foreign Affairs with regards to McCully's proposition and they had invited people from the New Zealand Foreign Affairs to visit China and talk over their concerns about the safety of the MA60.

"Interesting though, that a representative of the New Zealand Foreign Affairs told the Chinese in Beijing that they were concerned not with the safety of the aircraft, but with the operator of the aircraft [Real Tonga]," he said.

Samiu said that the Chinese "found it very amusing" when he told them that the operator was the same company that inspects Air New Zealand aircraft and the aircraft of other airlines that land in Tonga.

He believed that under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) certification requirements, that if a country wanted to buy an aircraft but it had not got the expertise, it could make an agreement to use the airworthiness process of the aircraft manufacturing country.

Tonga is a member of ICAO.

"We signed an agreement to use the airworthiness of China in June 2012, and we certified the MA60 according to the airworthiness of China," said Samiu, "but interestingly, New Zealand also signed an airworthiness agreement with China in December."

Tonga certified the MA60 aircraft and it started flying on the domestic service between Tongatapu and Vava'u on 10 August 2013.

The Tonga government is not looking for a solution for improving the standoff with its neighbour New Zealand over the aircraft.

Samiu suggested that Murray McCully should "withdraw his travel advisory for New Zealanders about the MA60 aircraft, and lift his suspension of the USD$8 million tourism development grant, over three years that he had endorsed."

Meanwhile, tourism operators in Vava'u report that many New Zealand holiday-makers cancelled their holiday bookings in Vava'u this year.

Samiu, however, said that visitor arrivals by air in Tonga were up by 17%, and the tourist operators in Vava'u who are in favor of the MA60 said that they have had a good year. "It is only those who are against the MA60 who are saying the new aircraft has a negative impact in their business."

Meanwhile, Tonga and China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to Facilitate Group Travelling, making Tonga a destination for Chinese tourists.

The standoff between Tonga and New Zealand over the Chinese-made MA60 aircraft began to take shape in January when Chathams Pacific, Tonga's sole domestic inter-islands airline announced that it would discontinue its operation in Tonga on 3 March 2013.

Chathams Pacific is a New Zealand based airline.

At the time, Craig Emeny, the CEO of Chathams Pacific Airlines in a letter to the Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano stated: "I have now lost business confidence in Tonga due to the government's attitude towards my airline, and I won't continue providing the domestic air services."

Craig expressed his disappointment over a decision by the Tongan government to sponsor air service competition by giving a donated aircraft from China to an airline that had yet to be established to compete with his airline.

When the Chatham Pacific terminated its operation on 3 March, the Real Tongan Airline stepped in, but to keep the domestic air service in operation it chartered some of the Chatham's aircrafts, such as its Convair 580 and DC3 aircrafts.

The MA60 aircraft that was still under construction in China was scheduled to arrive in Tonga before 2 November, but because of the disruption to the domestic air service, the arrival date for the new 52-seater aircraft was moved forward, and it arrived in Tonga in early July.


=========================
So, Chathams Pacific, a NZ based airline, could not compete against rising domestic Real Tonga airline , especially in such a small market, and had to pull out?