CAAB suspends issuing AOCs to private investors
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Mashiur Rahaman
In a desperate attempt to get rid of its name from the ICAO's list of 'Significant Safety Concern (SSC)' the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has suspended issuing Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) to new private investors, source said.
Private investors, who intends to obtain the approval, however expressed disappointments over this decision calling it 'discouraging.'
"CAAB has stopped issuing AOCs for new investors in order to regulate the country's aviation industry more efficiently," a well placed official of the CAAB told the FE.
He also claimed that CAAB decision is temporary and withdrawal is likely to take a couple of months.
As many as three private entities have approached the authority recently applying for the mandatory clearance to launch airline company, the source added.
Canada based International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in June 2009 enlisted CAAB into the list of disgraceful SSC, mainly for their inefficiencies in issuing AOCs to private air operators that were unveiled by the audit.
SSC list represents name of countries and their civil aviation authority as significant threat for the safety of international aviation. Nepal Civil Aviation Authority is the only other in the list from the region, experts explained.
ICAO audit report identified that the safety complaints in the state-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines and private operator United Airways BD Limited met the minimum standard while the rest nine registered airlines were below the line.
The international organisation dedicated for a safe aviation industry recommended suspension of these nine non-compliant AOC holders that CAAB failed to monitor properly.
"Besides pushing back fresh AOC applications, we are conducting audit of all air-operators under CAAB registration," the CAAB official said requesting anonymity.
In a desperate attempt to get rid of its name from the ICAO's list of 'Significant Safety Concern (SSC)' the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has suspended issuing Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) to new private investors, source said.
Private investors, who intends to obtain the approval, however expressed disappointments over this decision calling it 'discouraging.'
"CAAB has stopped issuing AOCs for new investors in order to regulate the country's aviation industry more efficiently," a well placed official of the CAAB told the FE.
He also claimed that CAAB decision is temporary and withdrawal is likely to take a couple of months.
As many as three private entities have approached the authority recently applying for the mandatory clearance to launch airline company, the source added.
Canada based International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in June 2009 enlisted CAAB into the list of disgraceful SSC, mainly for their inefficiencies in issuing AOCs to private air operators that were unveiled by the audit.
SSC list represents name of countries and their civil aviation authority as significant threat for the safety of international aviation. Nepal Civil Aviation Authority is the only other in the list from the region, experts explained.
ICAO audit report identified that the safety complaints in the state-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines and private operator United Airways BD Limited met the minimum standard while the rest nine registered airlines were below the line.
The international organisation dedicated for a safe aviation industry recommended suspension of these nine non-compliant AOC holders that CAAB failed to monitor properly.
"Besides pushing back fresh AOC applications, we are conducting audit of all air-operators under CAAB registration," the CAAB official said requesting anonymity.