Another English daily provides graphic details of Biman's faulty F-28s, saying that despite "repeated technical troubles" and opposition from pilots, BB bought two 28-years old F-28s in May this year, raising the fleet to five (The Daily Star, October 23). This news came in the wake of another F-28 that remained grounded in Sylhet a few days back due to technical troubles. These outdated planes were purchased from Indonesia. The cost of procurement was reported to be $2.91 million (The Independent, October 10).

The BB management defended the purchase on the ground that "the condition of the two 26 years old aircrafts was very good as they were maintained at European standard." However, the aviation experts were quoted to have said that the Fokker Friendship company of the Netherlands stopped production of this type of aircraft in 1987 and the company no longer existed. The aviation ministry also owes it to the taxpayers, not to speak of passengers, to explain who is right and who is wrong.

While the cause of the F-28 crash is yet to be found, BB is reportedly running short of planes in the domestic route. No statistical data is available to assess the widespread perception of the unsafe travel in the domestic route. There is some news available, however, on the disruption of flights caused not only by lesser number of planes but also a short-lived pilots' strike.

F-28 rejected in 1973
Some senior citizens affirm that way back in 1973, BB wanted to buy F-28s for the domestic route. One F-28 indeed came to Bangladesh and there was a flight from Dhaka to Sylhet. Among others, the then aviation minister late MAG Osmany was on board. Osmany alighted from the plane and was received by the then Deputy Commissioner (DC).

Osmany told the DC that he would just visit Hazrat Shah Jalal's shrine and come back to fly to Dhaka again. He told the waiting Biman crew to take the DC inside the aircraft until he had returned. A few weeks later, DC asked him why F-28 was not being used for Dhaka-Sylhet flight. "Oh, no, the technical committee rejected the aircraft as being unsuitable," was the reply from the minister.

It is now found that years later, F-28 was found suitable. Parameters for technical evaluation might have changed over time. This is not to say that F-28 is an unsafe aircraft. Indeed one must pend such a judgement until the probe committee reveals the cause of the recent crash in Sylhet. At the same time, the newspaper reports have it that another F-28 is now immobile in the hanger, causing more difficulties for BB to maintain its flight schedule. As for the reported option of the PM, newspaper reports also indicate that one F-28 was kept on stand-by during her recent visit to Rajshahi. This appears to contradict the PM's reported perception of F-28s being unsafe.

The culture of blame game
As in politics, BB is also not immune from blame game. In the view of the pilots responsible for running the aircrafts, the condition of the Sylhet runway was poor, there are depressions alongside the main wheel track, and there was water-logging after only a little rain. It was also said that the runway went under waist-deep water during the recent floods that caused serious damage, but no repair work was undertaken (The Daily Star, October 10).

An official of the civil aviation authority, however, contradicted this. According to him, flight operations had been going on at Osmany airport without any trouble. The state minister for civil aviation presented the political dimensions of the culture of blame game as expected. He was seen being interviewed by an electronic media a couple of evenings back. He was heard saying that Tk. 600 million were allocated for repair and maintenance of Osmany airport during the AL rule but not a single Taka was spent. What he left unsaid was that even during the last three years nothing was done in this regard. If only our politicians would shun the political culture of finding scapegoats, the country would be much better than it is today.

Quick response
The aviation minister is known for his quick responses to what essentially are technical issues. During his recent visit to Osmany airport, he ordered to complete the necessary repair and renovation of the runway, an issue that civil aviation authority officials do not find necessary, as earlier stated. He also told the journalists that the repair work would start within the next fifteen days. The minister also informed the journalists that the width of the runway would also be increased.

How the minister arrives at this conclusion of expanding the width of the runway is not known. He, however, talks about the intended result. According to him, after expansion, aircrafts flying in from London, Kuwait, Dubai, and other airports would fly directly to Sylhet. As is already known, it was during the first half of the seventies that initiatives were taken to convert Sylhet airport (later named Osmany airport) into an international airport. As a result and as part of the later efforts, wide-bodied aircrafts now operate between Dhaka and Sylhet. Is the width less than the technically specified width? This aspect remains unknown.

Defending F-28s
Although the cause of the accident is as yet unknown, the minister defended the aircraft, asserting strongly that the cause of the accident was not any fault in the aircraft. At the same time, he frankly admitted that the F-28 aircrafts were old and no replacement could be made due to lack of funds. Does it mean that the aircrafts are unsafe because these are old?

Damaged F-28 and insurance
It is learnt that the ill-fated F-28 was insured for $3 million, of which $2.65 million, as insurance claim, has since been reimbursed.

Standards of replacement
There are standards for replacements of old transports whether it is motor vehicle, ocean-going ships, or planes. Press reports indicate that the government recently decided to replace 20 years-old motor vehicles as part of measures to ensure road safety (Prothom Alo, October 14). It is learnt that the F-28 which met with the accident on October 8 this year, was bought in 1981. This means that it is at least more than 23-years old.

Minister's view
The aviation minister is yet to come out with any statement relating to standards of replacement. What he had recently told an electronic media indicated that Biman was in for a buying spree. He was reported to have said that Biman would now purchase at least two more aircraft not more than 10-years old for domestic flights. Is that the standard? Defending the purchase of 28-years old F-28s and then taking steps to purchase two more aircraft not more than 10 years old appears to be a contradiction in terms. Equally conflicting was the defending logic that the aircrafts earlier purchased were maintained at European standard. Why then is there a new move for purchase?

AMM Shawkat Ali, PhD, is a former Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture.