Bangladesh Aviation - Part 10

[shuvon]

Originally Posted by d0nny

Does anyone know filling in Arrival Card online (on http://www.immi.gov.bd/),
make a difference? If this was filled in online would they get the info or would this be a waste of time because you would need to fill in the card again at the airport? Has anyone here tried it?

Thank you

Be on the safe side do it at the airport. Its more logical.

I think the current new one asks for less info as well.

[Mamun85]

Jet Airways plans to add seven flights every week to Dhaka, Chittagong and Male, 14 to Singapore and seven to Dar-e-Salam in Tanzania.

the economic times - 31 July 12

[Supersonik]

Faruk khan MP, says Biman will start direct london sylhet flights with 3 months.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ-8DTzNODY

[TIslam]

Originally Posted by d0nny

Does anyone know filling in Arrival Card online (on http://www.immi.gov.bd/),
make a difference? If this was filled in online would they get the info or would this be a waste of time because you would need to fill in the card again at the airport? Has anyone here tried it?

Thank you

Originally Posted by shuvon

Be on the safe side do it at the airport. Its more logical.

I think the current new one asks for less info as well.

I agree. It is would be quite an achievement for the GoB, if their immigration database is current and online (connected to some central system at the home ministry).

[planemannyc]

Originally Posted by iasif

Hey folks! Its about time I did some catching up, so here goes:

Fact # 1: we never 'ordered' any B757s. True it was in the very initial considerations but we've shifted from that.

Fact # 2: we have nothing whatsoever to do with Air India. Where did you get that from?

Fact # 3: our first type for intl ops would be between the B737-800 or the A320. We have a few offers on the table, and will finalize the option hopefully by mid-August. [how do you like the diplomacy here?!?]

Fact # 4: our Dash-8s could potentially be replaced by mid-2013. The words that are buzzing around will tell you with what that replacement could be...and I'll leave the spaces blank for now just for the fun of it! [hint: its a beeaautyy...but then, every airplane is, no? ]

Looks like Regent is looking at the Embraer-190 to replace the Dash-8s.

Rest of the report below:

Regent Airways preparing to go international

A Monitor Report


Dhaka : With Bangladesh out of Significant Safety Concern (SSC) list, Regent Airways is preparing to spread wings beyond the borders.

"It is good news for us. It has been a painful long wait," said Imran Asif, Chief Executive Officer, Regent Airways as he returned to his office after felicitating Civil Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) for the achievement.

The airline had hoped to go international after one year of its operation, but CAAB was unable to give the go-ahead for international routes to any new carrier until the country was taken off the aviation industry's black list.

"We are now waiting for the ICAO three letter code, technical audit by the CAAB and allocation of new routes and frequencies," he said.

The airline is thinking of routes both in the east and west_ destinations like Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Kath-mandu, Kuala Lum-pur, Singapore and also points in China, Japan and Korea.

The airline is yet to decide on aircraft. It may be Boeing B737-800 or Airbus A320 for destinations five to six hours out of Dhaka, but the chances for the former are more. The aircraft will be configured in two class configuration. "We want the aircraft to come from a Category I country," he said.

The aircraft will be brought on wet lease with four sets of crew. If the airline goes east then the crew requirement will increase as there will have to be crew layover, he said.

The airline hopes to procure the aircraft this winter, when it is off season in Europe. "We hope to get a good bargain," Imran Asif said.

Regent Airways is considering replacement of two Dash 8s next year as the cost of their maintenance is rising with every year. The average age of Regent Airways two Bombardier Dash 8-Q-314 as of July 2012 is 13.4 years.

The C-check for one of the aircraft was done in 2011 and the other one this year. "We try to maintain the aircraft as best as possible," he said.

We are thinking of adding 95-seater Embraer E190 in two-class configuration for use in certain domestic sectors of the country like Chittagong, Sylhet and Cox's Bazar and flights to thin international destinations, he said.

Referring to records so far he said, "We have 99 per cent dispatch reliability and we 97 per cent on time so far."

Owned by the Chittagong based Habib Group, Regent Airways carried two lakh on its first year, has carried four lakh passengers by June and hopes to fly over half a million by November this year when it completes its second year of operation.

http://bangladeshmonitor.net/news_de...hid=3706&CID=1

[samaruf]

EMB-190 is a very nice plane. Passenger comfort is very high on this aircraft type.

[TIslam]

Originally Posted by samaruf

EMB-190 is a very nice plane. Passenger comfort is very high on this aircraft type.

I don't care for the regional jets (RJ). I find them too narrow and claustrophobic. Not enough room for baggage either. Everything single time I've had to connect to my final destination coming in from overseas, all the US carriers (AA, CO, DL) had to send our six pieces of baggage in subsequent flights.

[samaruf]

Originally Posted by TIslam

I don't care for the regional jets (RJ). I find them too narrow and claustrophobic. Not enough room for baggage either. Everything single time I've had to connect to my final destination coming in from overseas, all the US carriers (AA, CO, DL) had to send our six pieces of baggage in subsequent flights.

Among regional jets, the E175 and E190 are a notch above the rest. There's enough head and leg room and I am sure luggage space too. You are probably thinking about the Canadair CR series made by Bombardier. The worst for me was a TWA Beechcraft 1900D that I was taking from St Louis to Columbia, MO one time. Very claustrophobic and it felt like it could drop from the sky at any moment.

[planemannyc]

Originally Posted by TIslam

I don't care for the regional jets (RJ). I find them too narrow and claustrophobic. Not enough room for baggage either. Everything single time I've had to connect to my final destination coming in from overseas, all the US carriers (AA, CO, DL) had to send our six pieces of baggage in subsequent flights.

While I agree you on the ERJs, but the EMB-190 is not a regional jet (common misconception).

You can compare the cross sections:

ERJ-145 series



E-190 Serioes



I travel often on Delta (Shuttle by America) EMB 175s from New York to Chicago and they measure up (and do better) than B737 or A320 series. You can't beat the 2x2 seating. You can stand up straight (I am 5' 10" so no problems on the E190, but on the ERJ I have to bend down), full size bathrooms and no worries about regular-sized carry-ons. I would say that the E190 aircraft is actually my favorite plane to fly on on short routes.

Hope this helps.

[akbar1]

United Airways CMD pilots A310 flight to Dubai
Captain Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury, Chairman and Managing Director, United Airways (BD) Ltd, who has rating on all the aircraft in the airline's fleet, flew to Dubai as Line Captain on Airbus A310 on July 22, after undergoing a 15-day training in Jordan.
Earlier he earned Captain rating on Dash 8, ATR 72 and MD83.
About the flight, Captain Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury said, "It is a dream of every pilot to fly a big aircraft. I'm no exception. I feel great about it."
He earned CPL licence in September 1990 in UK and ATPL licence in US in 1995. He served as a Flight Instructor at Choice Aeronautical Academy in US for about three years conducting training and charter flights with Twin Comanche aircraft.
In Bangladesh he served Aero Bengal, Air Parabat and GMG Airlines as Director of Flight Safety and Captain as well as South Asian Airways, which failed to take off.
Prior to the flight, he said, "It will be a new experience for me to fly long-haul aircraft. When you fly, you fly as a Line Captain. You have responsibility to the passengers, the aircraft and to the regulatory authorities."
"When you are in the office you are a different person," he said.
He still relishes the role of Captain, Flight Examiner and Instructor of Dash 8. "I enjoy teaching as well as flying as a Line Captain," he added.
A Training Captain of the airline observed him on the July 22 flight.

[Clipper747]

Originally Posted by planemannyc

Looks like Regent is looking at the Embraer-190 to replace the Dash-8s

We are thinking of adding 95-seater Embraer E190 in two-class configuration for use in certain domestic sectors of the country like Chittagong, Sylhet and Cox's Bazar and flights to thin international destinations, he said.

Referring to records so far he said, "We have 99 per cent dispatch reliability and we 97 per cent on time so

http://bangladeshmonitor.net/news_de...hid=3706&CID=1

bullseye exactly as I said the EMB-Ejets. So what you say GAlive Bhai

[skystar320]

Imran, please check your work emails!

[TIslam]

Originally Posted by planemannyc

While I agree you on the ERJs, but the EMB-190 is not a regional jet (common misconception).

You can compare the cross sections:


I travel often on Delta (Shuttle by America) EMB 175s from New York to Chicago and they measure up (and do better) than B737 or A320 series. You can't beat the 2x2 seating. You can stand up straight (I am 5' 10" so no problems on the E190, but on the ERJ I have to bend down), full size bathrooms and no worries about regular-sized carry-ons. I would say that the E190 aircraft is actually my favorite plane to fly on on short routes.

Hope this helps.

DTW being my home base/airport, I thought I've flown both in CRJs and ERJs since DL operates both types. While the ERJs appear to be significantly roomier as depicted in your graphics, they appeared to be rather small jet passenger aircraft when compared to 737/320, the last few times I've been in them (CRJs/ERJs).

I may be flying to LGA and DCA before the summer is out. If so, I'll be sure to note the equipment used by the DL commuters.

[Moin]

Bangladesh's aviation regulator is now working to comply with the requirements of United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that will allow the country to resume its Dhaka-New York flights.

Recently, Bangladesh has cleared its name off the list of countries with unsafe civil aviation system.

The FAA had earlier raised objections in 61 areas in Bangladesh's civil aviation system. However, the country has so far addressed 45 such areas of concern.

When all these issues will be addressed, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) will graduate to Category 1 from Category 2 rating of the FAA.

The Category 1 rating will enable the CAAB to choose and change air routes.

“We have been working hard to meet the FAA standards and make the CAAB a modern organisation, which will meet safety and security standards of any international regulatory body,” said Wing Commander SM Nazmul Anam, director for flight safety and regulations of the CAAB.

The Bangladesh's aviation regulator will have to reshape and modernise its rules and regulations to comply with the standards of the FAA.

Bangladesh will also bring necessary changes to laws to make the regulator a real autonomous body.

The CAAB will also reshape its organogram and recruit qualified people, redesign their salary structures, and improve documentation.

“Now we are working on the areas that are essential for ensuring all sorts of safety criteria and that have been neglected for years. We have already completed our tasks in 45 areas identified by the FAA,” Anam said.

“We have acknowledged our shortcomings and are trying to overcome those. We have sent some of our proposals to relevant ministries for approval,” he added.

The CAAB sent proposals of revising its organogram to the civil aviation ministry, and suggestions to amend the regulations of the aviation authority to the law ministry, said Anam.

The CAAB also needs to develop appropriate air navigation order for air operation certificate and ensure airworthiness and continuous surveillance of air carriers.

The regulator also started the reconstruction of an asphalt concrete runway overlay at Shahjalal International Airport on June 3 after a six-year delay.

With this, the 10,500-foot lone runway of the airport is likely to get enough physical strength to handle heavyweight and wide-body aircraft.

Also, it has upgraded instrumental landing system, aviation weather observation system and set up runway visual range machine to ensure safety at the airport, added Anam.

The FAA, the most influential aviation agency in the world, placed the CAAB in Category 2 after finding irregularities in its operational activities in an investigation in December 1997.

At that time, Bangladesh failed to meet the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) minimum safety standards.

According to the FAA findings, the CAAB also lacked technically qualified personnel and surveillance efforts.

In 2006, the FAA conducted an audit and again placed the CAAB in category 2 as the Bangladeshi regulator could not meet the ICAO's minimum safety standards.

But now that Bangladesh has cleared its name off the ICAO's list of countries having significant safety concerns, the regulator sees it as a step forward to graduating to the category 1 status.

The CAAB has set a target of one year to work and reshape the organisation, said Anam.

“Then we will invite the IASA (International Aviation Safety Assessment) team to assess our progress, and hope to upgrade to category 1.”

Also, the aviation regulator plans to bring in some international experts to give the CAAB team a boost in knowledge and technical know-how.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesig...php?nid=244465

[planemannyc]

Originally Posted by TIslam

While the ERJs appear to be significantly roomier as depicted in your graphics, they appeared to be rather small jet passenger aircraft when compared to 737/320, the last few times I've been in them (CRJs/ERJs).

Your assessment on ERJ (or CRJs) vis-a-vis 737/320 is correct - they are smaller and cramped, and you can't take much carry-on luggage, and most likely your checked luggage will not make the flight.




However, the aircraft Regent seems to be interested in is the E190 - from the same Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, but a completely different category of aircraft. Embraer will stress that the E-Jet is not regional aircraft. The aircraft is a completely new design. High ceilings - 2 x 2 seating, plenty of overhead storage room and room in the belly for luggage.



I am sure you will like the E-jet aircraft - they are a beauty to look at and also fly.

[manbil777]

I will second PlaneMannyC. I could not feel a huge difference between the 737s and the E-190. Flew the E-190 from Chicago to New Jersey one time. Felt lighter and more nimble but not unstable. Plenty of power on takeoff. It was like a baby 737. Embraer did their homework on this one.

[planemannyc]

Govt to link all domestic airports with Dhaka
[Fairly useless article]

Public, private airliners set to team up

FE Report

The government has decided to link all the existing domestic airports with Dhaka through coordination between the state-owned and private airlines active in the civil aviation industry.

The decision has been taken at a recent meeting attended by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruk Khan at the ministry office.

The ministry has also formed a committee to coordinate the operation of flights by the private airlines and the state-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

Biman sources said the state-owned carrier would continue flying on the routes Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet and Dhaka-Cox's Bazar while the United Airways and the Regent Airways intended to operate flights on others routes.

With this end in view, the United Airways has already imported two small aircraft from the UK. The airliner has intended to operate the routes Dhaka-Barisal, Dhaka-Rajshahi, Dhaka-Syedpur, Dhaka-Jessore and Dhaka-Lalmonirhat. It is already flying to Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Jessore, Sylhet and Rajshahi.

On the other hand, the Regent Airways looks to operate flights on Dhaka-Jessore, Dhaka-Sylhet and Dhaka-Ishwardhi routes.

Captain Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury, Chairman and Managing Director of the United Airways, said their aircraft were lying idle as the officials of the ministry concerned were yet to give their inspection report on the airliner.

"We can launch flights on those routés as soon as the ministry and the Biman officials concerned give us the green signal," he added.

Tasbirul said the existing airport charges, handling charges, VAT and taxes are extremely high and it has compelled the private airliners to stop flying to the airports in different districts."

The country has three international airports at Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet and five inter-district airports at Barisal, Cox's Bazar, Jessore, Rajshahi and Saidpur.

The Civil Aviation Authority is setting up another district-level airport at Bagerhat. It also has seven registered short take-off and landing (STOL) airports at Bogra, Comilla, Ishwardi, Lalmonirhat, Shamshernagar, Tejgaon and Thakurgaon. Full-fledged airports may be run there in future.

The civil aviation authorities also have ten underdeveloped and unused airports at Sandwip, Chakaria, Tangail, Pahar Kanchanpur, Feni-Noakhali, Ghatail in Tangail, Rajendrapur, Moulvibazar, Rasulpur and Sirajganj. These airports do not have the necessary infrastructure for operating flights.

However, connecting the domestic airports has become a big challenge as the big names in the private aviation industry-GMG Airlines, Aero Bengal, Air Parabat and Royal Bengal Airways-has halted their operation.

Another private airliner, Best Air, has been out of operation for long, although it says it will start flying soon.

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.co...news_id=138810

Basically, there is nothing new here and there seems to be no decision or directive derived from the minister's meeting. At least the ministry is not likely to add more hindrance to the market - or so we can hope.

[TIslam]

Originally Posted by manbil777

I will second PlaneMannyC. I could not feel a huge difference between the 737s and the E-190. Flew the E-190 from Chicago to New Jersey one time. Felt lighter and more nimble but not unstable. Plenty of power on takeoff. It was like a baby 737. Embraer did their homework on this one.

@PlaneManNYC & Manbil:

I should find out within a couple of months whether I agree with your assessment.

[TIslam]

Originally Posted by planemannyc

Govt to link all domestic airports with Dhaka
[Fairly useless article]

[I]Public, private airliners set to team up

FE Report

The government has decided to link all the existing domestic airports with Dhaka through coordination between the state-owned and private airlines active in the civil aviation industry.

...........

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.co...news_id=138810

Basically, there is nothing new here and there seems to be no decision or directive derived from the minister's meeting. At least the ministry is not likely to add more hindrance to the market - or so we can hope.

Couldn't agree more. I fail to understand why such "intentions"/"academic discussions" become news worthy. There is hardly much GoB can do given that state run BG is no position to operate from all domestic airports. No amount of cajoling and urging will make the private carriers commit to such foolhardy endeavors, if there's no money to make from such operations.

From a consumer's perspective, as long as surface transportation remains cost advantaged, airlines cannot expect to increase revenue significantly in the domestic market.

[rinathq]

I will second planemannyc

I just flew the E-190 2 weeks ago from Calgary to Toronto and it was a comfortable flight. The legroom was decent and the aircraft I flew on had shared power outlets and in seat entertainment systems. E-190 is also a beauty from outside so thumbs up to Regent for considering it!