Bangladesh has bolstered its efforts to improve the aviation safety as the country faces a major air service audit by the global aerospace watchdog.
The Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will conduct a comprehensive assessment on the country's security record in the aviation sector in May as part of its campaign to promote safety in the global aerospace industry, civil aviation officials said Sunday.
'It's a massive assessment. The forthcoming audit will help strengthen our status on the global aviation landscape,' said Wing Commander M Kamrul Islam, a director at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
'We're keeping our fingers crossed to score 90-plus marks in 16 major areas to be evaluated by the ICAO. Last time our score was 92. In fact, our position is not bad at all by regional standards,' Mr Islam, who oversees flight safety and regulations of the CAAB told the FE.
The ICAO's audit is being viewed by officials as crucial in view of the country's booming air traffic that has averaged 7.5 per cent for the last couple of years, more than the global average of 5.0 per cent.
In 2007, an estimated 3.45 million air-borne passengers travelled in and out of Bangladesh, served by 20 foreign airlines who have captured 70 per cent of the market. The state-controlled Biman and other local carriers control the rest.
Beginning on May 18, the 10-day audit will continue until May 27, officials said.
The last audit on Bangladesh's aviation safety was done in 2000 and a follow-up assessment was also carried out in 2004.
Civil aviation officials said the global watchdog body has expanded this time its inspection to 16 key areas. The major areas include regulations, operation status, airlines accident record and mitigation strategy, air traffic control, and airport standards.
Officials said if Bangladesh can update at least 90 per cent of its aviation-related laws, it will elevate its position to the Category-1 as measured by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Zia International Airport (ZIA), the country's biggest, is still in Category 2 as measured by the FAA.
'That's why, ICAO scores are important. FAA will take ICAO's evaluation into consideration,' Mr Islam said.
He also said the regulatory agency has already undertaken steps to improve the air infrastructure, including improvement of taxiway, runway, and lighting and communications equipment.
'We'll be spending around Tk 1.0 billion to upgrade the runway at ZIA,' Mr Islam said, adding that air traffic control and communications system will also be improved with a grant from the Danish government.
The CAAB official noted laws relating to the aviation sector are being updated and steps are under way to make those applicable.
Mr Islam said the CAAB will address a total of 971 protocol questions under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), launched in 1999.
