DHAKA, July 25, 2019 (BSS) – Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB)
has taken necessary steps to fulfill USA’s FAA compliance with upgrading
itself as category 1 in a bid to resume Dhaka-New York Flight.
Currently, the CAAB is set to welcome the USA’s second audit team here to
get certify as category 1 by the US Department of Transportation’s Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA).
The CAAB chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mofidur Rahman informed it to USA
Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R. Miller while they held a meeting at CAAB
headquarters here, official source said.
During the meeting, they also discussed various issues for further
improving flight safety and cargo management of Bangladesh aviation sector.
Under firm leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Rahman said the
CAAB has taken various development endeavors like building third terminal of
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) and expanding facilities at
Cox’z Bazar, Sylhet and Syedpur airports.
The CAAB was downgraded as Catagory-2 after failing to comply with the
FAA’s during an investigation.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines used to operate flights on Dhaka-New York route
till 2006. But, currently Biman or any other airlines from Bangladesh are not
allowed to fly to the US as FAA has downgraded the CAAB to Category-2.
After getting downgraded, the CAAB has taken numbers of initiatives to
fulfil FAA compliance.
The FAA had already conducted first audit in this regard and Bangladesh
has got ready for the second audit.
Last year, the CAAB requested FAA to hold the second audit soon so that
Biman can resume the NYC flight.
In last month, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali
informed the parliament that direct Biman flights on Dhaka-New York route
would resume by the end of this year.
“Work is under way to upgrade the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh
(CAAB) to category-1. There is a plan to operate Biman flights on Dhaka-New
York route after upgradation of the CAAB to category-1 by the end of this
year,” he told House on June 29 last.