Despite the concerned authorities' repeated efforts, flight operation resumption on the Dhaka to New York route is still stuck in the audit process.
The flight operation resumption on the route supposed to get the go ahead in October last year, has been delayed up to June this year. But, as per the latest information, it will not be possible to resume operation before October this year.
According to civil aviation source information, there are still two audits pending, from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) of the United States of America at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).
However, a team of ICAO is working at the airport with the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB). Once they complete their task, an audit team of the FAA will be invited to carry out their audit at the HSIA. CAAB chairman Air vice Marshal M Mofidur Rahman told Bangladesh Post, "An ICAO support team is presently working at the airport. This is a pre audit to facilitate us, so that we do not fail at the final airport. The ICAO support team is from Thailand working at the airport. From their support, we have found pros and cons. There are few issues, where we have to develop."
"Following this pre audit, an audit team will come to Bangladesh to carry out their final audit. In the meantime, we have sent a letter to the FAA to send their audit team. The FAA has informed us, they have a good number of requests pending in queue. When they can come to audit us depends on time," he added.
However, the CAAB chairman also said that the aviation authority is looking forward to carrying out these two audits separately as they are time consuming and sensitive.
In the meantime, it was learned that Biman Bangladesh Airlines has sent a letter to the FAA to get flight frequency.
Biman Managing Director Shafiqul Azim said, "We are taking advance preparation, hence, when we get final approval we can start our operation immediately."
Earlier, US ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas called on civil aviation minister Md. Faruk Khan at the beginning of this month. During the visit, the ambassador said that both countries will work to flourish the aviation industry.
The US ambassador has also said that his country would assist CAAB and Biman to complete the due process to get a nod to operate flights to the USA.
At that time, the civil aviation minister said that as few things remain to be completed, his ministry will help Biman and CAAB to complete all these tasks, so that flight operation can be resumed soon.