CAAB Chairman Air Vice-Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan spoke at a discussion session today in the capital. Photo: CAAB

DHAKA, Jan 8, 2025 (BSS) – Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice-Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan today reiterated that CAAB is taking every possible measure to ensure the highest standards of safety in the country’s airspace.

“As we have seen the last week of the last year experiencing tragic aviation disasters one after another, reminding us about the importance of being vigilant on the impending risks that await us every day,” he said.

The chairman was speaking at a discussion session on “Recent Aviation Disasters and Our Team Effort” held at the CAAB headquarters auditorium in the capital. 

CAAB organized the workshop, the first of its kind in recent years, in response to recent aviation disasters, including the deadly Jeju Air plane crash in South Korea on December 29, which claimed 179 lives.

“We understand the concerns and anxieties of the public, and I would like to assure you that every possible step is being taken to ensure the highest standards of safety in our airspace,” the CAAB chairman stated.

He urged airlines to foster a "just culture" to facilitate the implementation of the Safety Management System (SMS).

“Aviation safety is of paramount importance to us, and we note that in a fast-growing aviation industry, the importance of mitigating aviation risks is becoming even more challenging,” he said.

The chairman emphasized that safety risks must be addressed proactively to ensure the industry’s expansion is carefully managed and supported through strategic regulation and infrastructure.

“We are sure that our combined efforts will have a positive impact on achieving a clear consensus on Zero Fatalities in commercial operations by 2030 and beyond, in line with the ICAO Global Aspirational Safety Goal,” he said.

As the Accountable Executive of the State Safety Programme (SSP), he encouraged all stakeholders to report any safety incident without fear, enabling the authority to take proactive measures.

Bird Strikes and Operational Challenges 

At the discussion, top safety officials from the country’s four airlines—Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, Novoair, and Air Astra—expressed concern over the persistent bird strike hazard at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).

Bird strikes, especially during take-offs and landings, can lead to engine failure and catastrophic accidents, airlines safety officials highlighted during the workshop.

Referring to the Jeju Air accident, officials mentioned an Al Jazeera report indicating that the pilot had reported a bird strike moments before the aircraft belly-flopped on the runway after failing to deploy its landing gear and overshooting the landing zone.

Capt Intekhab Hossain, Deputy Chief of Flight Safety at Biman Bangladesh Airlines, revealed that 10 major bird strike incidents were recorded between May 2023 and May 2024.

He noted that although bird strikes at HSIA have not resulted in fatalities, they have caused significant damage to aircraft, leading to substantial financial losses.

Capt AAMA Shahsuzzaman, Head of Safety Management at US-Bangla Airlines, stated that HSIA’s bird strike rate—1.73 per 1,000 flights—is three times higher than the global average of 0.5, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) data from January 2023 to October 2024.

Low Visibility Challenges

Airline safety officials also raised concerns about low visibility at HSIA during winter, which often disrupts operations due to dense fog.

To address this issue, they recommended upgrading the airport’s Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) from Category 1 to Category 2.