Bujumbura — Air Burundi has suspended further flights on its single 18-seater Raytheon Beechcraft beginning this week.

This follows the clocking of the recommended flight hours by their single plane, a Raytheon Beech 1900C.

"The aircraft manufacturers and dealers have recommended flight hours per airplane, after which it must go for routine service and maintenance to maintain international airworthiness standards.

In compliance with this directive, we shall ground the aircraft until the scheduled maintenance is complete," said the Managing Director, Mr. Melchior Nahimana in an interview with East African Business Week. The civil aviation authorities of Uganda and Rwanda, where the airline has been operating have been notified. Air Burundi passengers will be booked on Rwandair Express, an airline that Air Burundi has a lease agreement with. It is not yet clear how long the Beechcraft, the only craft that Air Burundi currently operates, will be out of service. However, plans are underway for the purchase or lease of another bigger aircraft by Air Burundi. This should be able to cater for other long-haul flights that Air Burundi has rights to for Europe and Asia.

There are four main aircraft maintenance checks. Those in the category A and B are light checks while C and D are the heavier checks. The A and B checks can be done at the airline hangars and are for periods of up to and above one and three months respectively (depending on the age, model and usage of the aircraft). The C check is done as per manufacturers recommendation and could be every 12 - 18 months or after a given flight hours. In 2007, the aircraft was given the C check or Heavy Maintenance Visit (HMV) in which the plane was given a full refurbishment by Execujet, a South African Aircraft Maintenance expert.

The current service is likely to be done by the same expert.