Bangladesh closer towards Dhaka-New York flight resumption

Bangladesh has moved a step forward towards a resumption of direct flight operation between Dhaka and New York. The Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh (CAAB) is upbeat in attaining FAA Category 1 status, a prerequisite for reopening the Dhaka- New York direct flights. A Category 1 rating by US Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) means that the civil aviation authority complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. Presently, Bangladesh has Category 2 rating. With first technical review by the FAA already completed and the outcome being in its favour, CAAB is expecting two more FAA reviews would be completed by year-end and Biman Bangladesh Airlines can fly again on this route sometime in 2019. Biman used to operate the Dhaka- New York route up until 2006 but stopped the service for commercial reasons. Biman's later attempts to resume operation could not succeed due to CAAB's non-attainment of FAA Category 1 status. "The process is in place to attain the FAA Category 1 status. The FAA has already conducted a technical review of the safety oversight provided by the CAAB between February 11 and 15 this year," Wing Commander Chowdhury Ziaul Kabir, director (Flight Safety) of the CAAB, said. After completion of the technical review, the FAA in its report has highlighted Bangladesh's effort to attain the FAA Category 1 status, he said. "Bangladesh has taken significant steps towards developing and implementing an effective safety oversight system that meets the ICAO requirements," the director (Flight Safety) said quoting the FAA report. Moreover the report added: "The CAAB is to be commended for its continued commitment to the necessary corrective actions toward providing and sustaining an effective safety oversight system," he said. Bangladesh will be evaluated through two more Technical Reviews by FAA Teams before the final assessment for attaining a Category 1 status is made. CAAB sincerely believes that with the collaborative and pro-active approach to safety undertaken by CAAB coupled with the government's commitment and guidance Category 1 status will be successfully achieved, Wing Commander Ziaul Kabir said. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recently recognized the CAAB to receive 'ICAO Council President Certificate'. This is in recognition of Bangladesh having achieved an Effective Implementation (EI) of 75 percent crossing the Global Average of 60 percent and making a 15 percent plus significant progress in optimizing safety standards in Bangladesh. ICAO conducted a validation mission in Bangladesh during September 19 to 27 in 2017. This achievement will not only boost the aviation sector, it will also enhance the image of the government worldwide. Moreover, this will also facilitate Bangladesh to operate direct flights between USA and Bangladesh in the near future, which is a pledge of the government, A K M Rezaul Karim, the public relations officer (PRO) of the CAAB, said. In 2012, CAAB was assessed as Category 2 rating by the FAA under the International Aviation Safety Assessment program (IASA). The purpose of the IASA program is to ensure that all foreign air carriers operating to and from the United States are properly licensed and with an appropriate safety oversight provided by a competent Civil Aviation Authority of the State pursuant to ICAO safety standards.