Airlines

NCA ordered by JACB to improve maintenance and record keeping practices

Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) has been ordered by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) to improve a range of its maintenance and record keeping practices.

The business improvement order was issued by JCAB, which is part of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism (MLIT) and was made in response to the freighter carrier grounding flights from 17 June to 4 July after it found discrepancies in its records.

Two aircraft – a Boeing 747-8F registered JA18KZ and 747-400F JA05KZ – have re-entered service, but two 747-400Fs and seven 747-8Fs remain grounded.

Parent company NYK Group said the order covers seven areas relating to safety management systems, appropriate reporting for maintenance records, and appropriate maintenance to aircraft structures.

NCA said in a statement: “We are re-evaluating our internal processes and controls since our analysis and preventive measures for the “Written Warning” NCA received from the MLIT on 5 October, 2016 did not prevent these same types of discrepancies in our operation.”

The carrier said it is utilising a third party company to assist in evaluating the root causes of the failure and to examine preventive measures immediately, and report it to the MLIT by a date.

NCA added: “All aircraft currently operating have been confirmed to be airworthy and safe. The remainder of the fleet is undergoing the same inspection, and we will inform the schedule updates as soon as it is decided.

“NCA will unite and make every possible effort toward re-starting a safe operation with a feeling “reproduce company from ZERO”.

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and worries that we caused our customers. We will do our utmost effort to conclude the safety checks for resuming the operation as quick as possible.”

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