Biman hikes pilots' pay

Bangladesh Biman management has given a 7.50 per cent pay hike to its pilots and decided to renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) it signed with the Bangladesh Airlines Pilots Association earlier.

Renewal of the MOU with certain amendments is expected to meet the shortage of pilots and relieve them of flying extra flights foregoing a mandatory 48-hour rest after a fight, Biman sources said. The MOU provided for the mandatory rest.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Biman management board on December 29.

It also decided to extend contracts with pilots by three years when they reach 57, subject to fitness, service conditions and performance instead of 'auto renewal'.

The Biman management has also decided to hire pilots on contract basis through advertisement at home and abroad and call back the pilots sent on deputation to fill up shortage in cockpits.

Addition of another DC-10-30 and an Airbus 310 last month increased the fleet strength of Biman to 13 from 11. It was already short of nine pilots when the fleet strength was 11. Biman now needs 162 pilots, the sources said.

Biman pilots had been agitating following expiry of the MOU in June 1998 and stopped flying extra hours from December 1 last year, leading to disruption in Biman flight schedules.

In recruitment of pilots, preference would be given to those having commercial licence and extra flying hours in their logs, with experience in handling equipment. This will enable former Air Force men and other pilots to join the Biman, the sources said.

But all in Biman are not happy even after the decisions, the sources said. Moves are underway by certain quarters who are lobbying for a change in the management, particularly replacement of its Managing Director.

They are accusing the MD of curbing union activities in Biman, which is trying to find a partner to offload its 49 per cent shares by this year.