Bangladesh biman

BANGLADESH HISTORY OF AVIATION   

By Syed Mohd. Saleh Uddin   

(Re-edited & assisted by Syeda Fatema and Hamza)
Following entries are re-edited from various online articles specifically from the Wikipedia and navigation talk.wordpress.com with minor moderation to cover the Bengali speaking civilians during the World war second and Airmen & civilians of PAF before 1971. They are the part of the Military Aviation History of this land also. It is done for the students who are studying History of Aviation of Bangladesh in Graduation level & Aviation History in HND etc as their learning material and guidance for the teachers on the subject by Syed Mohd. Saleh uddin, Assist. Prof.(retd), Rampura Ekramunnessa Degree College and previously who served in the PAF, BAF & the Bangladesh Army Education corps (SWO/retired.) who later worked also  in the College of Aviation Technology (CATECH) as CI,  Heritage International College of Aviation (HICA) and National Institute of Engineering &Tech.(NIET) as Vice Principal (acting),CI and in other capacities. Now (13 Feb.2014) he is working in a literary project under Dr. Shah Abdur Rahim, BOU (Bangladesh Open University), Gazipur, Bangladesh where he developed two new books in Bengali ‘The History of Aircrafts’ and ‘The Story of Air wars’ in Bengali to be published soon by the Sonali Sopan, Bangla Bazar, Dhaka & other translation works for the project. Mr.Uddin’s have entries in Banglapedia (Katiadi Upazilla and Aviation, CAAB, BAF, Airport, Gallantry Awards, BIMAN,PIA, EBR, EPR, War memorials etc.) &  also in navigationtalk.wordpress.com on Defence Forces    (Army, Navy & Air Force) of Bangladesh, Flying, Aviation and Navigation, ISSB etc. This exclusive collection for the Aeronautical students is dedicated to new comer JANNAT GAZI MARIA who breathed her first in this Earth on February 10, 2014 at about noon (01:30PM) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. May Allah grant her long life and the best here and also in Jannat hereafter.

 ~Military Aviation during World War in British India~

Before the World War ii there were few Royal Air Force aircrafts in India. These were employed in Miranshah of North West Frontier Province to fight against Wazirs & other tribal peoples. In April 1, 1933 the First Indian Air Force unit No-1 Squadron was raised at Drigh Road in Karachi. Initially it had 4 Wapiti aircrafts. Then Indian officers were sent for training in Cranwel, Great Britain. Then a Flying school was set up in Walton, Lahore ( now Pakistan) and another in Ambala ( now India). Then one by one in Kohat, Korangi Creek, Risapur etc places IAF training centres were established. In this part of India IAF stations were set up during World War ii. From that time Bengali speaking persons got chance to serve the Air Force.

During the Second War in 1941 British Government originated a landing strip at Kurmitola to lessen traffic load of Tejgaon Air strip. At that time these were used for war purposes where airmen & civil personnel were busy in maintaining war aeroplanes for operation in Kohima (Assam) and Burmese war theatres. Both British RAF and IAF & also American warplanes were operated from here. In the RAF, IAF & American Air Force detachments here & also in other stations considerable numbers of Bengali speaking civilians got chance to work and gained working experience in the warplanes of the world war second. Few of them were Syed Shahadot Hossain, Abdus Sahed, Kannu Mian, Abdul Khaleque Dhali, Siraj Uddin Ahmed may be named (he became an airman in PAF. In 1977 he went normal retirement from BAF Base Dhaka as Base Warrant Officer). Most of the unknown number of such personnel were war surplus. So, they joined other jobs after the war (now none of them may be alive. May Allah bless them in the next world).The article Air Force in navigationtalk.wordpress.com talked about them all also elaborately.

At that time Chittagong Air strip was also constructed. It was a combat airfield. Also, it was used by United States Tenth Air Force during their Burma campaign of 1944- 1945. It was their aircraft storage unit, supply point and Photographic reconnaissance base etc. In addition to IAF units known American units were in operation from the Chittagong Air Force station were 80^th Fighter group that flew P-38 Lightning fighters over Burma. Ever alert few  8^th Reconnaissance group detachments assigned there from 1944. 4^th Combat Cargo group was also there. It flew C-46 Commando Transport aircraft between the January to June 1945. Sylhet air strip was also used by RAF & IAF to check Japanese aggressions. (SMSU)

~Military Aviation during Liberation War of Bangladesh~

Main articles: East Pakistan Air Operations, 1971, Bangladesh Air Force, Aviation (Civil & Mil), Airports, CAAB etc articles of the mentioned references.

 

 

Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman              Martyred (in 1971) AC M. Jahangir

During the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fought & had extensive engagements in the sky over Bangladesh. The first engagement was on 22 November over the Salient of Boyra in West Bengal. In the process of air battle Tejgaon Airport suffered extensive damage by the attack of Indian warplanes.

Bangladesh Air Force was organised in India with the initiative of Squadron Leader Sultan Mahmud (Ex-PAF Pilot), Captain Shahabuddin Ahmed (Ex-PIA Pilot), Captain Akram Ahmed (Ex-Plant protection Pilot) and Captain Sattar (ex-PIA Pilot) and Captain Sarfuddin (Ex-PIA Pilot). Later many Bangladeshi ex-PAF Officers joined in Bangladesh Air Force in India. Finally Bangladesh Air Force was formed in late July 1971. Indian Air Force trained these Officers from July 1971 through November 1971 as fighter pilots. Bangladesh Air Force first went in action on 3 December 1971 and attacked the Chittagong based Oil tank depot and oil tank depot was totally destroyed by that air attack. The Air attack was conducted by Capt. Akram Ahmed. The second Bangladesh Air Force attack was on 6 December 1971 at Moulovi Bazar Pakitani Army barracks under the command of Squadron Leader Sultan Mahmud, where Captain Shahabuddin Ahmed was co-pilot.

Then, on the night of 3 December 1971, Canberra bombers of Eastern Air Command struck Tejgaon, which was guarded by PAF No. 14 squadron equipped with Sabre jets which lacked night fighting capability. By the morning of 4 December, strike missions against Tejgaon were assigned to 11 IAF squadrons, including Hunters of the No. 7 Squadron, No. 14 Squadron, No. 17 Squadron and No. 37 Squadron of IAF, as well as Su-7s of No. 221 Squadron and MIG-21s of No. 28 Squadron.

Throughout 4 and 5 December, IAF concentrated in attacking the aircraft on the ground. But, it failed to cause significant damage to the PAF assets in well-dispersed and camouflaged locations. By the evening of 5 December, the IAF changed tactics. On the morning of 6 December four MiG-21s (No. 28 Sdn), flying from Gauhati hit Tejgaon with 1000 lbser, scoring several hits on the runway. Kurmitola was attacked on the morning of 7 December, when Mig-21s of No. 28 Sqn again hit the runway. No. 7 Sqn was pulled out of the eastern ops on the 6 December to help the Indian Army in the west. Repeated attack by MiG-21s and Hunters of No. 14 and No.28 however, kept the runway cratered. The IAF assault effectively grounded the PAF in by 7 December, and No. 14 Squadron was taken out of the war. The IAF also bombed other airfields including the abandoned WWII airfields of Comilla, Lalmanirhat and Shamsher Nagar through the war, denying their use to PAF.

During Liberation war PAF Bengali speaking Airmen of all ranks were sent to various PAF stranded camp situated in various Military camps of Pakistan (West Pakistan before). Those were PAF Koeta, PAF Bannu no 1 & no 2 camps, Bannu Fort and lastly PAF Mianwali for Airmen & for Officers Miranshah fort and other cantonments.They were sent there from various PAF bases like PAF base Sargodha, PAF base Chaklala,PAF base LOWER TOPPA, Mari, PAF base Kirana hill, PAF base Sakasar, Sind, PAF base Peshawar, PAF base Risalpur, PAF base Kohat, PAF base Mauripur (Masroor), PAF base Drighroad, PAF base Korangi Creek, Karachi, PAF base Malir Cantt., PAF commando base PAF Chirat, various Radar stations of PAF etc. Few of them were in active PAF bases. Flight Lieutent Matiur Rahman were then at PAF base Masroor (Mauripur) in Karachi. He pretended so loyal to PAF that he was still in important responsibility of that Airbase where most of the PAF Bengali speaking airmen of all ranks were either in stranded camps or inactive in barracks. So, he was in search of an opportunity.  On August 20, 1971 Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman attempted to pilot a T-33 trainer (from the peace time where he was an instructor) from Karachi, Pakistan to India in order to defect from the Pakistan Air Force and join the liberation movement of  1971 in Bangladesh. However, Matiur Rahman could not take the plane out of Pakistani territory, as reportedly, Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas, the other pilot (flight student ) in the plane, forced it to crash in Thatta, a place near the Indian border. Indian Jam Nogor Air base was nearer. However both the pilots died. Matiur was awarded Bir Sreshtho and Minhas was awarded Nishan-E-Haider, respectively the highest military honors in Bangladesh and Pakistan, and both has air bases named after them, respectively in Jessore and Kamra. It is worth mentioning here that many of the Bengali speaking airmen tried to flee from various PAF camps crossing border lines to India or Via North West Frontier province to Afghanistan following Kabul river or via Tanda/ Kwaza Khejer hilly regions crossing Parachiner border or crossing tribal areas of Waziristan, Dara, Bera, Khyber, Landi Kotal, Turkham (Durand line), Kalat, Swat etc places. Thus they reached Kabul and flew for Delhi to join Mukti  Bahini. However it is not known now, how many airmen were successful in such efforts & how many were killed. As for example stranded airmen in Bannu camps seen a group of fleeing airmen captured up in the Kabul river near a Hydro Electric project adjacent to Miranshah, others were captured in Landi Kotal who were trying to flee via Khyber Pass and a person in a hilly area not far from Balo Khail a village near Badaber where once there was a big American (USAF) Air  Force Base. He and his friend Shahid followed hilly path from Dara who was only successful to cross the Afghan border. All the captives were back to stranded camps after their due military punishment where they were waited till the day of repatriation. Among the captured Tofazzol,Saleh uddin and Jalal & Badr with few of his mates were pioneer. Ac.  M.Jahangir Hossain managed to come from PAF Korangi Creek, Karachi and joined Mukti Bahini. In the RTS PAF Kohat Boxing team he was an energetic boxer. However he was martyred in a battle with Pakistani. This young freedom fighter joined the PAF in February, 1969.  From the beginning of 1972 none tried to flee from the camps. By the end of 1973 repatriation started from PAF Chasma of the Mianwali where once our great leader was also captive. At about same period from other stranded camps of PAF, repatriation began. On returning Bangladesh almost all of them joined BAF to become the part of the Aviation History of the land. Military Aircrafts of USSR and Royal (British) Air Forces assigned responsibility to transport airmen from Karachi. Bengali speaking airmen of the Army Aviation were also repatriated about the same period. They joined the Army Aviation of Bangladesh. Now Army Aviation is the essential part of our Military Aviation. Recently (2013) Bangladesh Navy introduced its Air Wing also. It can be said without any hesitation that our Military Aviations at present are proud for the airmen of all ranks of 1971 by whom, promptly after the independent Military aviations of Bangladesh were manned and gained their service for quite a long time. They were the souls of newly established aviation related training centres. They were trained in PAF Risalpur, PAF Walton, Lahore, PAF Lower Topa, Mari, PAF Sargodha, PAF Kohat, PAF Korangi Creek, Karachi etc other PAF Bases.  On 28 September 1971 about 9 officers and 47 airmen formed  ‘Kilo flight’ at Dimapur, Naga Land, India who were also defected from Dhaka and various PAF Bases. This is also establishment day of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). (SMSU)

Post-independence Aviation of Bangladesh

History and Resumption of civil aviation

History of Civil Aviation of this land introduced in British India. In 1947 The Mirza Ahmed Ispahani and his partners formed Orient Airways. Then it was operated from Calcutta. In 14 August 1947 Pakistan got independence from the British rule. So, Karachi became Orient’s Head Quarters as it was shifted there. Its first flight from Karachi to Dhaka was by a DC-3 on June 7, 1954. On March 11, 1955 Orient Airways merged into PIA. It was very famous & expanding airliner till 1971. It was the main conveyance in between the two wings of Pakistan. It transported service personnel and other Government officials from East to West and vice versa. Businessmen and their valuable products were also transported by it. In both the wings there were also few domestic flights which covered in East Pakistan its important cities from Dhaka like important cities link of West Pakistan from Islamabad. Once in East Pakistan there was Helicopter service of PIA (probably in 56’s). In lieu of conventional flight PIA also tried STOL service in East Pakistan. But after certain accident PIA abandoned Helicopter service here. PIA flew piston engine aircrafts like Dakota, Conveyer and Super Constellation. Then it added converted turbo propeller types of aircrafts like Viscount and Fokker. Then in PIA fleet Boeing, Comet and DC-8 were added. PIA added its first Boeing service in 1960. In the East Pakistan the Government of Pakistan also operated a Flying club and General Aviation service from the beginning. Its Eastern Pakistan Flying Club was established in 1948.Here was also there a Plant Protection’s Areal pest control wing which was established in 1956. All these were operated from Tejgaon ( Dainodda) air port. However, it was over burden of traffic. In the year 1966 the Government of Pakistan took a project to construct an Airport at Kurmitola, Dhaka around the British built airstrip. So, DCA and ADA was in development work according to their responsibility. The responsible authorities could work for development till the war is started.   In 1971 Eastern wing of Pakistan struggled for its liberation. So, the airport development works halted. On 16 December 1971 with the unconditional but total surrender of Pakistani authority people of this land owned victory over the ruling Pakistani junta. East Pakistan became independent Bangladesh.    Then Bangladesh Biman was established after the liberation of Bangladesh. Then due to reality halted airport development works resumed again. At last the airport was ready for operation. It started its operation in 1981. Later it was named Zia International Airport during the BNP Government. With the change of Government its Zia International Airport name was changed by the Hajrat Shahjalal International Airport in 2009. Now Bangladesh Biman and most of the foreign airliners are operating their International flight from here. Biman’s all domestic flights are also operating from here. Present Awami league Government is trying to find a new place to construct another airport which may be used to lessen the load of the International and domestic flights of the Hajrat Shahjalal International Airport. Now both of the Tejgaon and  Kurmitola runways are also used by the Military Aviation of Bangladesh. Run way of the Tejgaon is used by BAF & Bangladesh Army Aviation. (SMSU).

 

First civil Flight and BIMAN:

The first civil flight of independent Bangladesh operated from Tejgaon Airport by capt. A.Rahim on 1 January 1972 with a Cessna 150. The initial manpower of Biman was about 2500 officers, crew members and other Bengali speaking employees of PIA.The first international flight from Independent Bangladesh destined to Calcutta departed on 10 January 1972. The aircraft, a Douglas DC-3 subsequently crashed, killing the aircrews.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines was formed with one Boeing 707 left behind by PIA in January 1972. At the beginning it operated only domestic flight and by first year it started regional and International flight. During President Ershad’s period by late 1980s 24 cities of 20 countries were under its wing. At that time it also covered 101 cities of 48 countries with combined service with other airliners. For above operations Biman used three Mcdonnel Douglas DC-10-30s and four 1960s vintage Boeing 707-351cs and for domestic flight five propeller driven Fokker F-27s and F-28s.Then time to time new aircrafts were either purchased or taken on lease. By 2012 twelve aircrafts were added with Biman. At that time it had four DC-10, two Airbus, two F-28, three Airbus on lease, two Boeing 737 on lease and newly purchased one Boeing777-300 ER (Prothomalo dt,2011.10.23). It can carry 365 to 550 passengers. It can cruise 14ooo km nonstop. By a business deal with Boeing company in 2008 Biman would get ten aircrafts by 2019 from 2013. In the contact there was a deal to supply four Boeing777-30 ER, two Boeing 737-800 and four Boeing-787 Dream liners to be supplied by 120 corers of dollars. On 2014.11.2 a Boeing 777-300 ER named Akash Prodip was commissioned and its DC-10 was abandoned. I was supplied on 2012.8.2. Previously the company supplied two of the same kind of aircrafts named Palki and Auron Alo. On March 2014 another new777-300ER named Ranga provat will be supplied. (SMSU)

Bangladesh Air Force

Main article: Bangladesh Air Force

 

 

A BAF An-32 Cline                       An-26 cargo                     An-24 VIP                         C-130

The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) was formed at Dimapur, Nagaland, India on 28 September 1971 under the command of Air Commodore AK Khondakar (later Air Vice Marshal and Chief of Air Staff, Bangladesh Air Force). At that time, the nucleus of the (BAF) was formed as ‘Kilo Flight’ to assist the Mukti Bahini (Freedom Fighters). Initially, ‘Kilo Flight’ consisted of three aircraft provided by the Indian Air Force, 09 officers and 47 airmen. Squadron Leader Sultan Mahmud (retired as Air Vice Marshal and Chief of the Air Staff of BAF) was appointed as the commander of ‘Kilo Flight’. After having some basic training on air to ground weapon delivery, ‘Kilo Flight’ successfully bombed a fuel storage in Chittagong and Narayangonj area and thus the journey of BAF had commenced. During the last phase of the Bangladesh Liberation War the newly formed Bangladesh Air Force carried out 12 successful attack missions over Pakistani targets. During liberation war BAF had only one Douglas DC-3 Dakota (USA), one Air Tech Canada-1000 DHC-3 (Otter) & an Alouette- iii (France) helicopter that took part in various operations.

Indian air force operations over Pakistani vulnerable posts here in 1971 were discussed in short above. Though this operation is less related yet it is discussed here because this heroic operation was successfully operated by Indian Air force Military paratrooper aircrafts.  In that dropping the 2 (Maratha) Para Battalion were dropped at Madhupur forest area in Tangail. 50 of their aircrafts took  part in that operation to drop all the manpower and war equipments including food and field lodging also with required transports of the Battalion. Only two sorties of the droppings were out of the target area. One dropped its load a military jeep on a pond which was about 4 miles south of its dropping zone. Another paratrooper aircraft discharged all of its troops near Kalihati about 15 miles away from the target dropping zone.  However friendly local inhabitants admired them warmly and soon they joined their unit to fight against warring Pakistani soldiers.  This operation was made on December 11, 1971 only 5 days before the victory day. The operation was lead by the CO of the Battalion Lt. Col. Kulwant Singh.

After liberation in 1971, the Bangladesh Air Force received equipment from the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China&mdah;a clutch of Mikoyan-Gurevich MIG-21 fighters; Antonov An-24 and Antonov An-26 transport aircraft; and Mil Mi-8 and other types of helicopters from USSR, Great Britain, USA, France etc countries. Now BAF is flying its Antonov An-32 Cline of Russian origin and Hercules C-130 of USA origin as its Military Cargo aircrafts. These are very effective aircrafts for dropping of military goods & relief dropping in the remote areas. These are very successful aircrafts to operate over the high mountainous regions, high in the sky around the thunderstorm and over the hi-seas. BAF pilots also experienced of flying Mig-29 the most sophisticated Russian fighters of modern world and Chinese supersonic fighters A-7. Pilots of the Bangladesh Army Aviation are now very skill in their profession and gaining experience of flying newer aircrafts and helicopters. Our naval Aviation is also developing day by day.(SMSU)

Incidents and accidents

Before independence, a PIA Douglas DC-3 crashed in Charlakhi Island in the Bay of Bengal on 1 July 1957, killing all 20 passengers and four crews. A Cargolux Canadair CL-44 flight crashed into a farmhouse near Dhaka airport on take-off on 2 December 1970. 58 persons have died in 13 aircraft accidents in Bangladesh since the first post-independence on 10 February 1972 killing five crewmembers on board a Biman DC-3 flight.

On 5 August 1984, Biman faced its worst accident when a F-27 flying in from Chittagong crashed near Dhaka, killing all 49 on board including Captain Kaniz Fatema Rokhsana, the airline’s first female pilot. Three pilots have died at Parabat Flying Academy in Dhaka – Moklesur Rahman Sakib ( age 32), when his Cessna 150 (S2-AAM) crashed 7 June 2002, and Fareea Lara (age 26) and Syed Rafiqul Islam (age 24) in 27 September 1998, when they crashed at Postogola, Dhaka. On 8 June 2005, a Bangladeshi fighter trainee pilot of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) crashed into a neighborhood on the outskirts of the capital, killing one person and injuring four others.

Japan Airlines Flight 472 was hijacked by the Japanese Red Army on September 28, 1977. The Douglas DC-8, en route from Paris to Haneda Airport in Tokyo with 156 people on board, stopped in Mumbai, India. Shortly after taking off from Mumbai, five armed JRA members hijacked the aircraft and ordered it flown to Dhaka, Bangladesh. At Dhaka, the hijackers took the passengers and crew hostage, demanding $6 million and the release of nine imprisoned JRA members. A chartered JAL flight carried the money and six of the nine imprisoned JRA members to Dhaka, where the exchange took place on October 2. The IRA hijackers released 118 passengers and crew members, and all remaining hostages were freed later. But there were tragedy also. At that incident including Group Captain Raj Masud Khan 11 officers were killed by a group of unruly BAF airmen who gone rebellion at that time. So, consequently there were Court Martial and many unruly airmen got capital and punishments of various nature including jail and sack from the BAF service. No doubt, it was black & dark chapter for the BAF history what occurred with no aim yet many punished airmen were mere prey of the incident. In normal service life GC Sgt. Rashid, GC Cpl. Sadeque, Poet and writer Cpl. Ahsan etc were well behaved & through gentle airmen. May Allah forgive their faults for peace in the next world! The other tragedies in BAF were many pilots under training and during routine flights were died including Air Vice Marshall Khademul  Bashar, Sqdn.Ldr. Mofiz (they died together in an Air Tourer training aircraft crash in July 12, 1976.)  & one helicopter Pilot Sqdn. Ldr. Nurul Islam. However such accidents no air force can ignore. May Allah give high honour hereafter to all such deaths! (SMSU)

Ref: Wikipedia, Ananter Pakhira (The Birds of Paradise)  in Bengali (in navigationtalk.wordpress.com) etc.

Private airlines

The following is a list of private airlines of Bangladesh.

Year	Airline	Type of service	Type of Aircraft	Status
1996	Aero Bengal Airlines	Passenger service, Aeroplane service	Harbin Y-12, Antonov An-24 RV	Defunct
1997	Mission Aviation Fellowship Sweden	Aeroplane service	de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
1997	Air Parabat	Flight training, Passenger service	Cessna 152, LET-410	Defunct
1998	GMG Airlines	Passenger service, Aeroplane Service	MD-82, Dash 8-100
1999	Bismillah Airlines	Cargo service	Antonov An-12
1999	Youngone	– Private aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan, Piaggio P.180 Avanti II, Pilatus PC-12	cessna 152 , cirrus SR20 ,
1999	Best Aviation	Passenger Service, Helicopter service, Cargo service	BK 117, Antonov An-26, Boeing 707, Boeing 737
2000	Air Maximus	Cargo service	Boeing 747
2000	Aero Technologies	Helicopter service	Eurocopter AS-350 B
2005	Zoom Airways	Passenger service, Aeroplane service	BAe 748 Series 2B
2005	Air Bangladesh	Passenger service, Aeroplane service	Boeing 747	Defunct
2007	United Airways	Passenger service, Aeroplane service	Bombardier Dash 8, McDonnell Douglas MD-83, ATR 72, Airbus 310
2007	Royal Bengal Airline	Passenger service, Aeroplane service	Bombardier Dash 8	Defunct
2010	Regent Airways	Passenger service, Aeroplane service	Bombardier Dash 8, Boeing 747

|-2012 ||novo air||passenger service||erj145

Airports

Main article: List of airports in Bangladesh

 

 

Hangars at Shahjalal International Airport where aircrafts are stored and maintained.

The Tejgaon Airport is the oldest Airport of the country, it and the present Shahjalal International Airport originated in 1941, during the second world war, as the British government built a landing strip at Kurmitola, several kilometers north of Tejgaon, as an extra landing strip for the Tejgaon Airport. At the time these were military airports, to operate warplanes towards the war fields of Kohima (Assam) and Burmese war theatres. Then in Pakistan period and late after independence of Bangladesh Kurmitola airstrip by extensive development works was converted to a full and modern airport. It started operation in 1981 after intensive modification which included ATC, RADAR etc. It is the home base and hub of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, GMG Airlines and United Airways, Flying Academy of the Bangladesh and General Aviation etc and all the new Bangladeshi Airliners. At present all most all International Airlines operating in Bangladesh is operating from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka. Names of few of them are given below:

1. Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG).
2. Air India (Al).
3. Etihad (EY).
4. Malaysia Airlines (MH).
5. Tiger Airways.
6.  Kuwait Airways (KU).
7. Air Arabia (G9).
8. Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV).
9. Jordan Aviation (R5).
10. Qatar Airways (QR).
11. British Airways ( World Cargo).
12. Emirates (EK).
13. Thai Airways (TG).
14. Atlas Aviation (IRH).
15. China Eastern Airlines (MU) and China Southern Airlines (CZ).
16. Mihin Lanka.
17. Maldevian Airlines.
18. Gulf Air (GF).
19. Fly Dubai.
20. Dragonair (KA)
21. Kingfisher Airlines (IT).
22. Bangkok Air (PG).
23. Jet Airways (9W).
24. Cathay Pacific (CX).
25. Singapore International Airlines (SQ).
26. Druk Air (KB).
27. Air Asia (AK).
28. United Airways (bd) ltd (4H).
29. Regent Airways (RX).
30. GMG Airlines (Z5).
31. NOVOAIR.
32. Tor Air.
33. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
34. Nepal Airlines (RA). Its former name was Royal Nepal Airlines.
35. Egypt Air.
36. Turkish Airlines.
37. RAK Airways (RT).
38. Kabo Air of Nigeria ( Chartered by BIMAN for hajj flight time to time.).
39. The list is long the airlines are having landing right in Bangladeshi International airports. So, aircrafts of various American Airways, British Airways, Australian Airways, QANTAS, Asiana Airlines, All Nippon, South African Airways, SAS, Lufthansa, Air France, Air Canada, Era Aviation, IndiGo, Airphil Express, Air Berlin, Sichuan Airlines, German wings etc seen flying over Bangladesh.
40. In Bangladesh domestic flights were operated by Biman from 1972, GMG from 1998 (temporarily suspended its flight operation from MARCH 30, 2012. But the company intended resume its flight soon. It had acft Boeing 767-300, Bombardier Dash 8-Q-300, Bombardier Dash 8-Q-100 and the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 in its fleet), United Airways from 2007, Regent Airways from 2010 & NOVOAIR from 2013. This new Airliner planning to operate its domestic flights to various air ports like Chittagong, Jessore, Sylhet, Cox Bazar etc from Dhaka by its EMB- 145 jets aircraft. However, now all the domestic flights are limited among Hazrat Shahjalal International air port, Shah Amanat International airport and Osmani International airport. By now counting heavy losses Air Bangladesh, The Best Aviation,Air Parabat (it had also a flying academy), Aero-Bengal, Royal Bengal etc organisation winded up their aviation business. Proposed airliner Rupshi Bangla failed to start its air service (domestic) due its procedural difficulties. Yet new companies are coming up to operate domestic flights in Bangladesh.

Present Shah Amanat International Airport ( in Chittagong) was a combat airfield as well as a supply point and photographic reconnaissance base by the United States Army Air Forces Tenth Air Force during the Burma Campaign 1944-1945. Known American units assigned to Chittagong were: 80th Fighter Group, flew P-38 Lightning fighters over Burma between March 1944 and February 1945; 8th Reconnaissance Group, between October and December 1944 (various detachments); and 4th Combat Cargo Group, flew C-46 Commando transports between January and June 1945. Present Osmani International Airport in Sylhet was built during British rule. It became Sylhet Civil Airport later, used partly to check Japanese aggression from Burma in wwii. Now Biman Bangladesh Airlines earns enough revenue from this airport.(SMSU).

The following is a list of airports in Bangladesh:

Location served	ICAO	IATA	Airport Division	Airport name
International airports
Dhaka	VGZR	DAC	Dhaka Division	Shahjalal International Airport
Chittagong	VGEG	CGP	Chittagong Division	Shah Amanat International Airport
Sylhet	VGSY	ZYL	Sylhet Division	Osmani International Airport
Domestic airports
Rajshahi	VGRJ	RJH	Rajshahi Division	Shah Makhdum Airport
Jessore	VGJR	JSR	Khulna Division	Jessore Airport
Saidpur	VGSD	SPD	Rajshahi Division	Saidpur Airport
Cox’s Bazar	VGCB	CXB	Chittagong Division	Cox’s Bazar Airport
Barisal	VGBR	BZL	Barisal Division	Barisal Airport
Tejgaon	VGTJ		Dhaka Division	Tejgaon Airport
STOL (Short Take-off and Landing) ports
Ishwardi	VGIS	IRD	Rajshahi Division	Ishwardi STOLport
Comilla	VGCM	CLA	Chittagong Division	Comilla STOLport
Bogra			Rajshahi Division	Bogra STOLport
Thakurgaon	VGSG	TKR	Rajshahi Division	Thakurgaon STOLport
Lalmonirhat	VGLM	LLJ	Rajshahi Division	Lalmonirhat STOLport
Shamshernagar	VGSH	ZHM	Sylhet Division	Shamshernagar STOLport
Under construction airports
Bagerhat			Khulna Division	Khan Jahan Ali Airport
Unused airports
Sandwip		SDW	Chittagong Division	Sandwip Airport
Chakaria			Chittagong Division	Chakaria Airport
Feni–Noakhali			Chittagong Division	Feni Airport
Ghatail–Tangail			Dhaka Division	Rajendrapur Airport
Maulvi Bazar			Sylhet Division	Maulvi Bazar Airport
Pabna			Rajshahi Division	Ishwardi Airport Division
Rasulpur				Rasulpur Airport
Sirajganj / Bogra		SAJ	Rajshahi Division	Sirajganj Airport
Tangail			Dhaka Division	Pahar Kanchanpur Airport

References:wikipedia&navigationtalk.wordpress.com etc.

    Regulatory Bodies and requirements for Aeronautical jobs in Bangladesh

 International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is body of the United Nations Organization.It is the body which controls Civil Aviation Authority worldwide including FAA, EASA, CAAB etc. CAAB is the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh. It regulates all of the Aviation related activities of the land. It is the National Aviation Authority operating under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. It operates all the 9 operational airports (three international and six domestic). It is the member of the ICAO. Its HQs is in Kurmitola. It has signed bilateral transport agreement with 43 countries. In Pakistan Period it was Department of Civil Aviation of Pakistan (DCA). Established in 1947. Its function was Management and operation of Civil Aviation In East Pakistan. Under it Airport Development Authority (formed 1965) was working. It was a limited company which constructed Airports and Aerodromes. For DCA it performed all required Electrical & Mechanical Engineering works.

DCA of Bangladesh formed after liberation of 1971. Its functions were as above DCA. Then also ADA was working. In 1982 both the organisations merged together to form a compact organization named Civil Aviation Authority by vide ordinance no xxvii of 1982 titled Civil Aviation  authority ordinance, 1982 promulgated by the Government of Bangladesh. This was vested with more power about the organisation management. The Government reserved financial management. In 1985 present CAAB was established with both managerial and financial power vide ordinance, 1985 (replaced ord. Of 1982).

Aeronautical personnel like Pilots, Engineers, Instructors etc have to take different type of licences from CAAB. Student Pilots who are undergoing pilots’ training in the Flying Academy of Bangladesh, Arirang Flying Academy, Galaxy Flying Academy, TAC Aero- nautical Academy etc may compete for PPL & CPL under CAAB after 50 or 100 hrs of flying respectively. For Engineers Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) and Aeronautical Institute of Bangladesh (AIB) are CAAB approved colleges. After all formalities their students also able to take part in the licence examinations of CAAB.   

CAAB awards cat A licence for Airframe (general maintenance)

CAAB awards cat B licence for Airframe (overhaul)

CAAB awards cat C licence for Engine (general maintenance)

CAAB awards cat D licence for Engine (overhaul)

CAAB awards cat E licence for Electrical

CAAB awards cat I licence for Instrument

CAAB awards cat R licence for Radio

There are College of Aviation Technology (CATECH),Aeronautical College of Bangladesh (ACB), National Institute of Engineering and Technology (NIET), Cambrian International College of Aviation (CICA) etc are operating in the country. They are running courses of EDEXCEL, England, BTEB and other foreign bodies. Their students are permitted to compete for Licence under European Air Safety Agency (EASA). It also issues different categories of licences as EASA part 66 cat A, B1/B2, C etc licences. Their students may also take part in CAAB licence exams after fulfilling few conditions. Retired Air force and Army, Navy Aviation Aeronautical personnel may also compete for Licence without type rating (LWTR). Licensed Engineers enjoy the status of Graduate Engineers ( Professional) in their respective fields. Their licences are honoured in all airlines. Those who feel like to take licences from International bodies,  they may also sit for EASA licence exams which is conducted by British Council in Bangladesh. Retired pilots and Instructors from Defence Forces may also apply to CAAB for their respective rated licences. In service personnel in airlines after serving certain period in an aircraft as specified in the CAAB rules may compete for type ratings. Those who are interested to do short courses before their licence exams which may help them to overcome hurdles of the exams, they may contact AIB, ACB and CATECH. All the above centres are in Uttara, Dhaka. AIB is approved for the CAAB courses. This is the oldest organisation of this kind in Bangladesh.  It was established by Kazi Shamsur Rahman, M. Moslem uddin etc ex dignitaries of Biman & BAF in about 1999 in Uttara, Dhaka. Later it was upgraded and renamed AIB. Now AIB is a famous Institute under the leadership of Engineer S.M.Akmol Hossain. Now (2014) courses of CAAB, BTEB and Assumption University,Thailand are available here. They are trying to make contact to few Bangladeshi Public Universities for Under graduate level ( BSC, BBA etc) courses.For all courses expenditure differs according course & Institute. For Pilots training also course cost differ according to Institute. In Bangladesh low cost one is Flying Academy of Bangladesh as there is government subsidy on tuition fees. Others claim Tk 20 to 30 lacs course fee including 100 hours flying required for CPL. Licence exam fee to be submitted to the CAAB either individually or by the institute for all. The Bangladesh Air force Academy and Army Aviation give pilot training to BAF and the Army pilots respectively. Any ambitious young man with good science background may apply to get such opportunity. On commissioning they will be trained there free of cost. They need no CAAB license to fly defence aircraft. However, after retirement from the defence service they may get chance to join civil airliners. In that case they will have to earn a licence from CAAB or other appropriate international body. They will have to appear at the exam for the licence on paying appropriate fee to CAAB or to other agency. In case of licence exam CAAB approval is needed. In Bangladesh followings are the CAAB approved training organisations.

1. 1.     Civil Aviation training centre (CATC) for various Aeronautical courses.
2. 2.     Bangladesh Airlines training centre (BATC) for various Aeronautical courses.
3. 3.     Bangladesh Flying Academy & General Aviation ltd for Pilot’s training.
4. 4.     Arirang Aviation ltd for Pilot’s training.
5. 5.     Galaxy Flying Academy ltd for Pilot’s training.
6. 6.     Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) for Graduation in Aero- Engineering under Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP).
7. 7.     Aeronautical Institute of Bangladesh (AIB) for Diploma of Aerospace and Avionics Engineering under Bangladesh Technical Education Board & various other short courses approved by the CAAB also BTEB . To foster both the theoretical and practical training on aircraft maintenance engineering AIB is working with the various organisations locally and internationally together. AIB has signed the Memorandum of understanding (MOU) between organisations for the better training facilities and practical on live aircrafts. (SMSU)

        

Ref: As above and banglapedia & wave site of AIB.               

AIB has Memorandum of understanding with the following organisations:

1. 1.     Bangladesh Flying Academy and General Aviation ltd.
2. 2.     Regent Airways ltd.
3. 3.     Galaxy Flying Academy ltd.
4. 4.     Sky Capital Airlines.
5. 5.     R&R Aviation ltd.
6. 6.     GMG Airlines.
7. 7.     Mission Aviation Felloship (MAF).
8. 8.     Bangla International Airlines.
9. 9.     Assumption University of Thailand.
10. 10.  SAGE Aviation, Malaysia.
11. 11.  AMIKON Aviation Training.
12. 12.  United Airways (BD) ltd.
13. 13.  NOVOAIR.
14. 14.  EASY FLY EXPRESS LTD.
15. 15.  Pacific Aviation ltd.
16. 16.  TAC Aviation ltd.
17. 17.  Square Air Limited.
18. 18.  Bismillah Airlines.

 

 

Ref: wave site of AIB.

Syllabi for Pilot training and Engineering courses in Bangladesh:

                CAAB is only licence awarding authority for Aviation related professionals in Bangladesh. Jobs in the Aviation sectors became international in nature when licence is awarded. It means when one obtains licence opportunity of job also opens for him in the International Arena. CAAB is the member of ICAO. So, CAAB follows ICAO approved syllabi for its all licence exams. Pilots’ licence issued under ICAO is recognised all over the world. Approved institutions worldwide in this field are permitted to run PPL, CPL –A, CPL-H, IFR, MER, ATPL, SEA PLANE LICENCE, GLIDER LICENCE, FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR’S LICENCE, INSTRUCTOR RATING LICENCE etc courses.

               In our country like other countries for pilots’ training Ground study subs. are included. For Private Pilot Licence (PPL) followings Ground Study subjects are taught for 150 hours or planned by the institute: Aircraft Structures, Aerodynamics, Aircraft systems, Flight manuals and aeronautical documentations, Performance, Reports of the weather charts, Airspace, Mapping and Navigation, CRM, Flight controls, Principles of flight, Flight instruments, Weight and balance, Weather, Airport operations, Aircraft Navigation, Flight Physiology, Aviation regulation etc.

               For Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) ground study includes following subjects: Navigation, Weather, Mapping, Tele-communications, Weight and balance, Altimetry, Flight Physiology, Facilitation, Instrumental procedures, Aerodynamics, Interpretation of weather charts, Aviation regulations, Performance, Airfield, Airspace and flight ops., Interpretation of Aeronautical charts, CRM etc.

                 For Airlines Transport Pilot licence (ATPL) following subjects are taught as the integrated course: Airframe, Power plant, Radio Navigation, Principles of flight, General navigation, Operational procedures, Mass and balance, Aircraft systems, Air law, Instruments/Electronics, Meteorology, VFR/IFR communications, Flt, planning etc.

                   For Instrument Rating course ground study includes following subjects: Instrumental procedures, Airspace and Flight operation, Instrumental phraseology, Weather, Altimetry, Interpretation of IFR aeronautical charts, IFR aviation regulation, Preparation of IFR flight, Instrument.

                   There are other courses also like MULTI ENGINE RATINGS (MER), Flight Instrument course etc. Foreign Flying Schools like Flying School in Philippines & USA invites  international students and gives package offer with Single Engine (Cessna- 152) 140 hours flying, Single Engine (Cessna-172) 20 hours, Multi Engine (BE-55/58-PA-34- 200T) 40 hours flying and training in the Flight Simulator 40 hours 6 to 7 months for PPL course. That includes ground training of 150 hours, food, lodging etc. Others from  USA and Europe also have package offer for various courses for pilots. In USA Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and in Europe EASA/JAA ( European Air Safety Agency/Joint Aviation Authorities) are responsible to arrange licence exams. There examinees are to follow either FAA or JAR (Joint Aviation requirements) respectively. Pilots of Bangladesh may avail these offers. However, these are very costly. So, it is wise for Bangladeshi to complete their courses in CAAB approved national Flying Schools. The better Institution for low cost may be Bangladesh Flying Academy and General Aviation ltd. In the country it is the oldest institute in this discipline which started its operation in 1948 after it was established in then East Pakistan as a Flying club.

               About CAAB licences for Engineering personnel short discussion was made above. CAAB follows ICAO approved curriculum for licence exams. But syllabi for different levels of courses are prepared by the respective Universities and Boards. In some cases approved institutions developed syllabi for their short courses which are shaped for specific aeronautical jobs. MIST follows the curriculum of Bangladesh University of Professionals for all of its courses. The College of Aviation Technology (CATECH) also have under graduate course in Aerospace Engineering of BTEC, EDEXCEL, England. It is known as Level-6. CATECH also have BTEC nationals (ND), known as Level-3 and BTEC Higher nationals (HND), known as level-5. Its curriculum is internationally accepted. Few other institutes in Bangladesh are also running BTEC courses in different disciplines. Their course wise syllabi of individual courses will be available in their wave site. Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) also have 4 years Diploma course in Aerospace and Avionics Engineering. AIB and few other Poly Technique Institutes which have these courses follow BTEB syllabi. By 8 eight semester of 6 months each this course is divided. Among those one semester is for on job training on the live aircrafts in a Airliners ( only 8^th semester) and one of the semester legislative course ( only 7^th semester in own institutes) according to BTEB policy. Initial 1^st to 6^th semester (3 years) is abinitio ie theoretical and practical classes. Its (BTEB) curriculum is available in theBTEB wave site. Both AIB and CATECH is approved to run few short courses of BTEB. These are:  

               1. Air Hostess & Cabin Crew.

               2. Travel, Tourism & E-Ticketing.

               3. Aviation Management.

             All the above courses are of 3 to 6 months according to students choice. Their approved syllabi will be available in both the organisations. Besides, AIB has following CAAB approved basic/refresher training courses for experienced aircrafts personnel’s:

                 Basic courses:

1. 1.     Airworthiness Legislation.
2. 2.     Human Performance and Limitations.
3. 3.     Helicopters.
4. 4.     Aircraft Piston Engine.
5. 5.     Aircraft AC Power.
6. 6.     Aircraft DC Power.

     

   

 

                Refresher courses:

1. 1.     Airworthiness Legislation.
2. 2.     Airframe.
3. 3.     Aircraft Turbine Engine.
4. 4.     Aircraft DC Power & AC Power.
5. 5.     Aircraft Instruments & Integrated Flight Systems.
6. 6.     Human Performance and Limitations.
7. 7.     Aircraft Radio-Radar.

Syllabi of the above courses will be available in AIB office. Retired defence service aeronautical personnel may do any or more of the above courses to accommodate themselves in airlines job and that may also help them in the LWTR exams. Those who are working in the airlines already such courses may also be helpful for them. AIB has EASA Licence courses with the cooperation of AMIKON Aviation Training. (SMSU).

 

Ref: CAAB, AIB, CATECH etc wave sites and AIB Prospectus.