NCA freighters gradually returning to skies

The first of grounded fleet of Boeing 747s has received clearance to return to flight operations.    Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) said Thursday the first of its grounded fleet of Boeing 747 freighters has received clearance to return to flight operations.
   “The rest of the aircraft operation will resume in sequence as soon as the aircraft safety is confirmed,” the airline said in a statement.
   The first cargo flight, a roundtrip between Japan’s Narita airport and China’s Shanghai Pudong airport, took off Thursday.
   The airline, at the behest of Japan’s civil aviation authority, ordered a temporary suspension of all aircraft operations on June 17 after an “inappropriate” April 3 maintenance record related to aircraft parts lubrication was discovered at Narita airport. 
   “In an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety of our operation, we decided to temporarily ground all aircraft until all maintenance records have been confirmed appropriate,” the airline said.
   According to NCA’s website, its freighter fleet consists of five B747-400s and eight B747-8s and serves 15 airports across Asia, the United States and Europe.