Bangladesh's Civil Aviation Academy under the CAAB achieves ICAO Gold Membership. Photo source: CAAB

DHAKA, Feb 12, 2025 (BSS) - The Civil Aviation Academy under the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has reached a new milestone in international aviation by securing the prestigious Trainer Plus Gold Membership from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

"This is indeed a monumental achievement attained in a very short time. It will significantly contribute to developing a skilled workforce and aviation experts in Bangladesh," CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan told BSS today while reacting to the achievement.

He said that the academy advanced from Silver to Gold membership by adhering to ICAO standards and continues to organize international training programs and capacity-building initiatives.

Bhuiyan expressed confidence that the academy could achieve Platinum status in the future, crediting the prestigious recognition to the coordinated efforts of all stakeholders.

"The Civil Aviation Academy has been actively working to enhance training standards with ICAO's support, aiming to develop skilled and technically proficient personnel for the modern aviation sector," he added.

This recognition is expected to benefit not only CAAB but also domestic and international airlines operating in Bangladesh, he said. 

The Gold Membership Plaque was handed over by ICAO Secretary-General Juan Carlos Salazar at the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS) 2025 in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

CAAB Member (Operations and Planning) Air Commodore Abu Sayeed Mehboob Khan and Director of the Civil Aviation Academy Prasanta Kumar Chakraborty received the award on behalf of the Bangladesh government.

According to a CAAB statement, Salazar noted that Bangladesh Civil Aviation Academy's rapid progression from Silver to Gold status is a rare accomplishment among nations. 

He attributed this success to the exceptional leadership and continuous supervision of the CAAB chairman Bhuiyan.

The award ceremony was also attended by ICAO's Chief of Global Aviation Training Laura Camastra, Asia Pacific Regional Director Tao Ma, and Director of Capacity Development and Implementation John Vargas. Senior officials from the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) were also present.

As a Trainer Plus Gold member, the CAAB stated that the academy is now responsible for conducting training activities and maintaining quality under ICAO's Standardized Training Model. 

It said the Gold membership would elevate the competencies of aviation instructors and inspectors in the region to international standards, significantly contributing to ICAO audits.

The Civil Aviation Academy is now working to produce globally recognized trainers capable of delivering ICAO-certified courses worldwide.

Additionally, Bangladesh can now develop and offer ICAO Training Packages (ITP), opening new revenue opportunities in the aviation training sector.