Discussion held on Bangladesh’s goal of direct flights with US

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Attaché Daniel Jacob discussed different ways to achieve Bangladesh’s goal of direct flights with the United Sates (US) during his four-day official visit in Dhaka wrapped up on Wednesday.

During the visit, he met Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman and officials at the foreign ministry, said a press release issued by the US embassy here today.

The meetings held here to continue the close cooperation needed to achieve Bangladesh’s goal of US.-Bangladesh direct flights, it added, reports BSS.

Jacob explained the process for attaining direct flights. Bangladesh needs to achieve a “Category 1” safety rating, which requires passing the U.S. FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA).

A Category 1 rating ensures that Bangladesh complies with critical International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices.

FAA will carry out the IASA for the Category 1 rating, at the request of CAAB. CAAB has not yet made a request to FAA for an IASA, said the US Embassy.

If CAAB achieves a Category 1 rating, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will conduct a separate assessment and inspection to make sure that Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Biman Bangladesh Airlines meet relevant security requirements for direct flights between the United States and Bangladesh.

For the past several years, the FAA and TSA have been providing free technical assistance to CAAB and Biman Airlines to achieve international safety and security standards.

The US government is also providing free airport screening equipment to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and providing training to Bangladeshi aviation officials so that Bangladesh can meet the highest international security standards.