Square Group to launch helicopter service this month
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Mashiur Rahaman
The country's leading conglomerate Square Group is going to launch commercial helicopter service within this month focusing chartered as well as emergency medical evacuation within the country.
Initiating with one six-seater 407-Bell helicopter the 'Square Air Limited' as it is titled, is waiting for clearance from the regulator Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, the company source said.
"We are expecting Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from CAAB within the next few days and would launch commercial operation immediately thereafter," Director Operations & Chief Pilot of the Square Air Ltd Gr. Capt. M Abu Zafar (Retd) told the FE.
The company has already purchased a brand new multipurpose helicopter from US-based manufacturing company Textron, suitable for chartered passenger carrier as well as air ambulance operation.
We will offer round-the clock helicopter service for foreign tourists, corporate bodies, business delegations and international donor agency members for chartered air service. Besides, the helicopter would also provide air-ambulance service to critical patients from across the country, Mr Zafar explained.
Square Air Ltd is the third airlines company of its kind in the country. In the past, two similar initiatives were undertaken and failed to achieve expected response from their targeted passengers. Nitol Group's 'Aero Technology Ltd (ATL)' brought in one Euro Cop-35 helicopter and independent 'South Asian Airlines Ltd' introduced two Robinson helicopter in 2000. But shortage of passengers, unavailability of fuel and high maintenance cost made the two companies suffer hard.
The ATL's helicopter has been grounded for the last three years while the other company is struggling hard to keep flying as their specially required LL-100 category fuel is hard to find in the country, industry insiders explained.
"Market for chartered helicopter service has not been established in the country yet but its prospect is vast and wide," Chief of Training of the newly introduced Square Air Ltd Wing Commander Shafiqur Rahman (Retd) acknowledged.
The country's leading conglomerate Square Group is going to launch commercial helicopter service within this month focusing chartered as well as emergency medical evacuation within the country.
Initiating with one six-seater 407-Bell helicopter the 'Square Air Limited' as it is titled, is waiting for clearance from the regulator Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, the company source said.
"We are expecting Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from CAAB within the next few days and would launch commercial operation immediately thereafter," Director Operations & Chief Pilot of the Square Air Ltd Gr. Capt. M Abu Zafar (Retd) told the FE.
The company has already purchased a brand new multipurpose helicopter from US-based manufacturing company Textron, suitable for chartered passenger carrier as well as air ambulance operation.
We will offer round-the clock helicopter service for foreign tourists, corporate bodies, business delegations and international donor agency members for chartered air service. Besides, the helicopter would also provide air-ambulance service to critical patients from across the country, Mr Zafar explained.
Square Air Ltd is the third airlines company of its kind in the country. In the past, two similar initiatives were undertaken and failed to achieve expected response from their targeted passengers. Nitol Group's 'Aero Technology Ltd (ATL)' brought in one Euro Cop-35 helicopter and independent 'South Asian Airlines Ltd' introduced two Robinson helicopter in 2000. But shortage of passengers, unavailability of fuel and high maintenance cost made the two companies suffer hard.
The ATL's helicopter has been grounded for the last three years while the other company is struggling hard to keep flying as their specially required LL-100 category fuel is hard to find in the country, industry insiders explained.
"Market for chartered helicopter service has not been established in the country yet but its prospect is vast and wide," Chief of Training of the newly introduced Square Air Ltd Wing Commander Shafiqur Rahman (Retd) acknowledged.