The Daily News reports that the newly acquired Zimbabwe Airways planes which were bought from Malaysia been sent back to the Asian country for repairs before it has made a single commercial flight.
Government is yet to receive the remaining three wide-bodied aircraft from Malaysia Airlines. Sources who spoke to Daily News yesterday said the Boeing 777 jetliner had recently flown back to Malaysia for A checks and other maintenance works. A subsequent visit by a Daily News crew to Robert Mugabe International Airport confirmed the reports.
According to experts consulted by Daily News, A-Check maintenance refers to checks that are carried out on an aeroplane every eight to 10 weeks — where “filters will be changed, key systems (like hydraulics in the ‘control surfaces’ that steer the aircraft) will be lubricated and a detailed inspection of all the emergency equipment (like inflatable slides) is completed”. When contacted for a comment, Transport minister Joram Gumbo, said:
Ask whoever told you that the plane went for repairs to tell you the extent of the damage. As far as I am concerned, I do not know anything about it.
More: Daily News