12 abandoned aircraft at HSIA a bane for CAAB

Twelve abandoned aircraft parked at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) have turned into a bane for the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) as auction process for selling them may face complications.
The auction process may be obstructed by the banks concerned that have a huge amount of outstanding debt with the companies owning the aircraft, says experts.
On the other hand, the CAAB is being deprived of parking income as these aircraft have been occupying parking area at the airport for a long time.
Since the owner companies did not take any initiative to remove the aircraft despite issuance of several notifications, the CAAB confiscated last year the 12 airplanes that have been lying abandoned at HSIA for over 10 years.
Among the abandoned aircraft, eight belong to United Airways, two to Regent Airways, one to GMG Airlines, and one to Angel Airways.
After confiscating the aircraft, the CAAB has taken preparation to sell them through auction.
The aircraft and their accessories have been left abandoned in the apron in front of the export cargo area of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The CAAB on June 10 last year asked its department concerned to confiscate them and put them up for auction.
For selling the aircraft through auction, it needs to determine the scrap value of these goods; however, the CAAB has no manpower with such knowledge and experience.
In this circumstance, the CAAB in a recent meeting discussed the necessity of the formation of a committee to select internationally experienced consultants or organisations to determine the scrap value of the aircraft.
Finally the CAAB meeting decided to send letter to Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Bangladesh Air Force and Bangabandhu Aeronautical Center through the ministry concerned to set the scrap value for selling them at auction.
In addition, it was also decided to look into the legal aspects before putting them up for auction.
Meanwhile, owners of the aircraft claimed that it will not be possible for the CAAB to put them up for auction as all the companies have liabilities to different banks.
Banks will obstruct the auction process when it will start. In that case hiring international consultants or organisations will spend money unnecessarily.
Kazi Wahidul Alam, an aviation expert and also former chairman of the board of directors of United Airways, told the FE that selling the aircraft through auction is not a proper solution and the owner companies will face a huge loss in this way.
He said his company took an initiative to sell the aircraft of their companies at US$4 million but the CAAB did not cooperate with them.
But the process the CAAB is following will not be fruitful as the organisation will get a minimal price through the auction, whereas the aircraft have a recycle value in the market, Wahidul Alam further said.

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