Two foreign aircraft lying abandoned

Cox’s Bazar Airport
Two foreign aircraft lying abandoned
Hired for shrimp fry transport in 2004-05, Ukraine-based owners didn’t respond to notice
Cox’s Bazar Airport authorities are facing problem, as two Russian-made cargo aircraft have been lying inoperative in the airport for long.
Sources said normal activities of the airport are being hampered as the planes are lying in the apron of the airport. The aircraft cannot be auctioned either for certain complexities.
The two planes have lost working capacity due to lying abandoned for long. The airport authorities also cannot remove the planes in the face of mysterious silence on the part of their owners.
Sources concerned said the two Russian-made cargo aircraft were brought to Cox’s Bazar in June 2004 and June 2005 mainly to transport shrimp fries. Two Bangladeshi firms–Aero Technology (ATL) and Super Aero–hired the two cargo aircraft from two firms of Ukraine.
From the beginning one plane was used for carrying shrimp fries. But the plane did not fly from 2005 after four technicians, including its pilot, took wine at a hotel in the district town and died of intoxication.
However, another aircraft could not be put on service due to lack of necessary permission and papers.
At present one plane is lying in the apron of the airport while another in a nearby vacant space.
Manager of the Airport Mahmud Akhter Hossain confirmed it and told The Daily Star though the foreign owners of the two planes have been issued letters several times, they did not respond. The Bangladeshi firms that hired the aircraft are also avoiding their responsibility.
Despite several attempts to make contact with the two Bangladeshi firms, no one was found. The local firms winded up their office from Cox’s Bazar two years back.
The airport manager said repairing the planes to make them fit to fly would not be financially viable. Such types of Russian-made aircraft are not operating now in any country.
Sources concerned said there is a raft of complexities in auctioning the planes. For auctioning the abandoned planes, advertisement has to be placed in international media, which is very costly. Besides, before going for such process, several notices have to be published.

Courtesy of The Daily Star