Crash of a training flight at Rajshahi

Training flights are normally conducted by a licensed flying school. After a student passes medical test, laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation  (ICAO) and vetted by the Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB), s/he goes through ground subjects to acquire knowledge on aviation. The school has to maintain its equipment in impeccable condition for ensuring flight safety. Having instructors with good experience and knowledge cannot, however, stop human failures  - the recent crash in the Alps is a glaring example.
Lots of speculations by non-pilots are going around and misleading everyone. We need to have patience to find out the real reason and help rectify so that such an incident never happens again. Journalists with limited knowledge on aviation (without prejudice) are gullible to any and every information to get a story out of it (most of the newspapers reflect that). They also need to consult some professionals before giving out information for the sake of fairness. Each one has a story to tell which may not have been correct but has an impact on people unnecessarily.
The aircraft in question was subjected to routine check for 50/100 hours by the CAAB a week before the mishap and was declared fit to fly. Otherwise, an aircraft is invariably checked before every flight for fitness.
Three students of the Flying Academy did their first solo flight the day before on the same aircraft. So the aircraft must have been in spick-and-span condition and fit to fly.
Just prior to initiating the reversal, the instructor had sought permission from the tower for this action. After takeoff and at very low altitude, they tried to simulate engine failure landing. This means the aircraft had its power available but reduced. Normally at such low altitude, 180 degrees reversal is not only not allowed, but also is not possible without the help of power. They did not open power. In such a situation at low altitude, it is highly recommended to land straight ahead and be safe.
At that height and distance, one would have to keep a lookout for the field (R/W). While doing that, it is a possibility that the aircraft over-banked and the stalling speed increased, making the flight very unsafe because of the height and distance from the runway. There were very remote chances that they fought with the controls in panic. The weather was congenial for flying. Anytime an airport becomes active and fire-service goes into standby mode, ready for immediate action, should the need arise.
Nothing can be reversed now, but, there is a lot to learn from the incident. It is imperative to stop playing blame game and work out something to prevent such happenings. Pinpoint the failures and rectify them to prevent further happenings. Aviation is totally a different ball game, unique in its nature. Variables are many like equipment, speed, weather, day or night, height etc. It is very uncommon to the daily affairs on the ground. It is something similar to underwater activities, unique in its own rights.
CLOSING DOWN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS: Meanwhile, it is needless to point out that there are thousands of Bangladeshis living in Europe who prefer travelling by Biman just to get the feel of their motherland, its food and culture and the language. One really feels at home inside Biman.
After independence, people have moved across oceans looking for jobs and a better life. This number is increasing at exponential rate.
These people work very hard to send precious foreign currencies to the country and we believe the country should also reciprocate by keeping them happy. But the airline cannot afford to sustain continuous losses to keep these people happy, which is also true. Now we need to look into whether the airline is losing on these routes.
In and around 1995, when we operated these flights with DC-10 aircraft, these used to be filled with passengers, both ethnic and foreigners. What happened to that load? It is still there, just it seems we do not want them any more. Would it be all right to say that there has been an agenda shift by the hierarchy, disregarding the company's benefit.  This writer remembers, passengers of economy class were upgraded to first class off and on, both from Frankfurt and Rome. Suddenly Frankfurt was suspended from its routes. Now if one does not do his homework, how can one expect results? Airline business is not something that works on whims; a thorough study of pros and cons is imperative. One must look before leaping, not later.
After Biman stopped its Frankfurt flights, Rome flights got even more crowded. More passengers mean more money. This is a business organisation and that it does not want any more money is a surprise.
The World Bank had once made some recommendations to Biman, which, to this scribe's mind, was damaging, both to the airline and the country. They had recommended to reduce Biman staff. At a time when the country's system and culture allow a worker to put in only two to three hours in a job and he is not subjected to any accountability, we need three men to do one man's job. Bangladesh does not entertain accountability in any sector of its administrative machinery. There are many such examples.
Narita flights were operated mostly full both from Bangkok and Singapore, Biman suspended that route. Now it cannot have that route back. Though the Japanese authority had viewed our constraints with sympathy, Bangladesh could not cash on the opportunity. The Prime Minister was requested to request for reopening of the route which she did and yet the Biman authorities could not seize the opportunity. Why?  It's a million-dollar question. Many tourists and ethnic passengers travel from Amsterdam, Belgium, Paris and New York. Why did we have to close these routes? There are ups and downs in business and if one does not work hard, he is bound to sustain temporary loss. But that should not be a reason to act stupidly or take rash decisions? Now we cannot have these routes back and we had such good business from these routes.
Interestingly, Biman had opened its flights to Manchester and Frankfurt without doing any homework. There was no display of proper schedule or advertisements or incentives to the passengers. People did not know that these flights were reopened. How can one expect passengers?
Closure of domestic flights because of loss is not justifiable. Biman is a government-owned airline and is heavily subsidised. The private airlines get no subsidy from anywhere, but how do they sustain? Doing homework is the pragmatic answer. Here factors like selection of equipment, frequency of flights, time of operation etc. are of utmost importance.
Buying of newer version of aircraft of their choice (World Bank) is understandable. At this modern time, equipment need to be the latest. With the rise of awareness, people also want good, reliable and spick-and-span equipment.
What Biman did was to follow the World Bank's recommendations and soon found out that those were not good for the airline business. So after retiring staffs, they hired people on daily basis. The Biman authorities without using their brains reduced some money-fetching routes and closed down domestic flights now to restart. We did get some new aircraft. What is it?  Experiment?  Or were there ulterior motives?
Hypothetically, let's say corruption is the thing. Why kill the golden goose? Forty four years of experiment should have taught us a thing or two. Professional institutions need to be run by professionals. Even by trying this we are going backwards in time. It is high time to hand over these institutions to professionals and let the country prosper. People deserve better.
The immediate past Managing Director Kevin had tried some gimmicks which never worked. Rather these taxed Biman unnecessarily. Imagine taking a DC-10 to Birmingham to show off (for what) with full complement of crew and staff at Biman's cost. What was the outcome? We haven't sold the aircraft yet. But he left with all the kudos. Kevin's successor has started domestic and closed Rome flight. Only future days will say whether these will click.

Capt. SM Nasimul Haque (retd) is a former president of the Bangladesh Airline Pilots Association.
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