CAAB grounds Best Air's Boeing
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), the regulatory body for civil aviation-related activities, yesterday grounded the Boeing-737 aircraft of Best Air, a private airline, for technical problems in the aircraft and on charges of not ensuring proper safety of passengers.
An inspection team of CAAB yesterday grounded the aircraft after conducting a ramp inspection in the Boeing, sources said.
“The Boeing-737 aircraft of Best Air has been grounded for different reasons, including non-availability of safety equipment for passengers and technical problems in landing gear indicator,” a member of the inspection team told The Daily Star last night, wishing anonymity.
“Best Air was operating its Boeing-737 on Dhaka-Colombo-Male route with only one life raft (inflatable rubber boat with life-saving equipment), instead of three, in violation of CAAB rules,” he said.
Wing Commander M Kamrul Islam, CAAB director (flight safety and regulations), led the three-member inspection team.
Adequate number of life raft is a must to fly on long range over water operations as per the requirements under the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and CAAB rules, said an expert.
Long range over water operation is defined as flying to a distance of 100 nautical miles from the shoreline or 30 minutes' flying distance at cruising speed, whichever is the less, he added.
The distance between Colombo and Male is about 400 nautical miles, which is a long range over water operations.
When contacted, Best Air Chief of Marketing Farhad Hossain said last night that they are not aware of any steps taken by the CAAB to ground their aircraft.
Meanwhile, International Air Transport Association (IATA) has suspended the clearing house membership of GMG Airlines.
“In accordance with the clearing house regulation, for the reason of non-payment of July 4 clearing balance, the clearing house membership of GMG Airlines has been suspended with immediate effect,” says an IATA circular issued on August 25.
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