NCA hit with business improvement order as operations continue to restart

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Nippon Cargo Airlines has brought a second aircraft back into operation after grounding its fleet last month. This followed concerns over maintenance records for its 11 aircraft. The return to service of this second aircraft will bring extra capacity onto the transpacific trade, in turn hopefully reducing freight rates, which soared after NCA grounded its fleet. Air Cargo News reports that the return to service coincides with the carrier being hit with a business improvement order from Japan’s ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism. The order covers seven areas, including awareness of safety consciousness and compliance training, appropriate formulation of the safety management system, appropriate reporting of maintenance records and appropriate maintenance related of the aircraft structure. Furthermore, the report cites local reports claiming the ministry will also retract an airworthiness certificate that exempted NCA from annual inspections.