Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh

Aviation in India can be traced to the first commercial flight on 18 February 1911, and grew during the period between the First and Second World Wars. Some 103 airports, aerodrome, airfields and airstrips were built and operated by the Allied Air Forces in the part of present Bangladesh during the Second World War. These airfields were extensively used for conducting air operations during the Burma Campaign against the Axis powers. After the War, most of these facilities of the Royal Indian Air Force were left unused. After independence from British colonial rule and the partition of the subcontinent, the aviation infrastructure and facilities in what was then East Pakistan were inherited by the Pakistan Air Force.

In the year 1947, the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) was formed under the Ministry of Defence of the then Pakistan government. This department managed the operations of civil aviation in the eastern part of Pakistan until 1971. Its authority was extended by the Civil Aviation Authority Ordinance 1960, after which in 1961 the Government of Pakistan passed the right of use of almost all airfields and aviation related infrastructure and properties, except a few used by the then Pakistan Air Force, to the DCA.

After the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, a Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) was formed in the newly born country. During the nine-month-long war, the aviation infrastructure had been badly damaged by bombardment by Allied Forces over the main airports to disable Pakistan Forces. The DCA of Bangladesh inherited the assets and property left over by the erstwhile DCA of the Pakistan. Aviation activities in independent Bangladesh started in the last week of December 1971 under the Ministry of Defence.

There was another organisation, a limited company named Airports Development Agency (ADA), that was working in the Pakistan period. It was formed in the year 1965 and its functions were to construct airports, and to perform all required electrical and mechanical engineering works for DCA. It was essentially an engineering organisation in nature.

Ordinance No. XXVII of 1982 titled the Civil Aviation Authority Ordinance, 1982 promulgated by the Government of Bangladesh, merged the DCA and the ADA to form a compact organisation named Civil Aviation Authority. This authority had more autonomy in organisational management, but the government retained power over financial management.

In 1985, the present Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) came into existence as a body corporate with full managerial power, both organisational and financial, vested with it vide Ordinance, 1985. This ordinance repealed Ordinance, 82, dissolved the previously constituted Civil Aviation Authority and transferring all its establishment, assets and liabilities to the new authority.[1]

1. Registration of aircraft: CAAB maintains register for all Bangladeshi aircraft.

2. Certification of Air-worthiness: To ensure flight safety, airworthiness of aircraft must be ensured first. An aircraft can be regarded as airworthy if it and its components conform with design standards, are of approved type and are in sound operational condition. CAAB regularly inspects the aircraft registered in Bangladesh and issues/renews certificate of airworthiness for the worthy aircraft, and suspends/cancels such certificate of unworthy ones. Without such certificate no aircraft should attempt to fly. CAAB also continuously monitors all maintenance activities with Bangladesh aircraft, approves certificate for aircraft type and certificate for maintenance establishments, issues directions regarding maintenance, approves design modification, repair and replacement of any component.

3. Personnel Licensing: Each personnel responsible for flight operations on board – pilot, navigator, flight engineer, flight instructor, air traffic controller etc. – and aircraft maintenance engineer on ground should have appropriate license proving his ability and skill before he engages himself in respective job. CAAB tests and issues/renews licenses to the successful applicants. No member of the aircrew and no maintenance engineer should engage in flying operations and participate in maintenance works respectively without such license.

4. Bi-lateral Agreements: CAAB examines documents submitted by other countries in regard to bilateral Air Services Agreements, negotiations and prepares brief for the Government. Any foreign airline intending to operate scheduled flights in the country must be designated pursuant to such Government level agreements.

5. Air Transport Service Authorisation: CAAB issues/cancels license for Bangladeshi enterprises of air transport services, and approves, revises if required, tariff including fares, rates, charges, commissions, and terms and conditions associated with their business.

1. CAAB provides air traffic control service to each aircraft flying in the national airspace and moving on manoeuvring areas of Bangladesh aerodromes to prevent collisions, and to maintain expedite and orderly flow of air traffic.

2. CAAB establishes air routes, and flying, approaching and landing procedures for each route and aerodrome belonging to the country.

3. CAAB makes all necessary arrangements for search and rescue operations in case of accident or missing of any aircraft, and conducts investigations against accidents and unwanted incidents related to aircraft.

CAAB makes provisions for facilities and services for aeronautical telecommunications and air navigation to ensure safety, regularity and efficiency of aircraft operation.

CAAB makes all necessary arrangements to ensure security to passengers and aerodromes, and to detect, prevent penetration of terrorist activists on board from within national territory.

CAAB makes all necessary arrangements to establish and maintain all passenger services and facilities at the terminal of Bangladesh airports. Arrangements for facilities, such as flight information, public address, entertainments, comfortable room and environment for passengers and their attendants are all accomplished by CAAB.

1. CAAB constructs, maintains and develops airports, aerodromes whenever and wherever are required to expand the aviation infrastructure and air transportation network in the country.

2. CAAB also provides operational accommodation to other organisations and agencies like airlines, Customs, Immigration, Meteorology, Health, Police etc. at the airports.

1. CAAB studies, evaluates and plans for development of the aviation infrastructure within the country considering necessity and budget. It also maintains liaison with regional partners and ICAO in relation to future development programs masterminded by ICAO.

2. CAAB takes all necessary steps for training of its operational officers and employees both in country and abroad. It also has a Civil Aviation Training Centre in Dhaka.