Dhaka : The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has prepared a mega plan to support the development of Bangladesh's entire aviation ecosystem. For this purpose, as per reports, the airplane manufacturing giant will be establishing the first-ever ab initio school in Bangladesh.

The move is part of the company's efforts to produce commercial pilots and mechanics locally to meet the growing demand and save the country's foreign currency as airlines currently send pilots abroad for training.

Ab initio refers to airline career pilot programmes that take in students with very little or no flight experience and create competent, professional airline pilots by providing ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License) in 18 months.

Airbus already signed an agreement with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University to establish the school in Lalmonirhat, Bangladesh, added reports.

The matter was also brought up in the recently signed MoU titled 'Aviation Trade and Investment Partnership' between the Bangladesh government and the UK government.

On May 5, during the Prime Minister's visit to the UK, the MoU was signed in London over purchasing 10 wide-body aircraft, including two cargo and eight passenger planes, where Airbus offered a long term plan for developing aviation infrastructure.

Airbus presented a comprehensive package which includes supporting aviation focused higher education institutions, promoting cooperation in air traffic management and airport operations to improve air traffic services, delivering Airbus capacity to build initiatives to enhance skills of civil aviation personnel and tackling environmental challenges, including reduction of aviation emissions.

As per the signed agreement, Airbus will provide strategic advice and marketing services to Biman Bangladesh Airlines to assist in its operations. At the same time, the aerospace company will build a fleet plan up to 2030, such as how Biman can maximise the utilisation of aircraft, which routes they should go for expansion to generate more revenue, marketing plan etc.

Reports cited a senior executive of Airbus saying, "The trade and aviation partnership is not only limited to aircraft, but also to the development of the local aviation industry, to upskill human capital and to support Biman in its ambition to become a top airline."

Airbus will also support the holding of an annual aviation summit in Bangladesh as per the MoU.

The summit will help the Bangladesh government and air operators understand the real opportunities in the aviation business to make the country an aviation hub, the Airbus executive said, as per reports.

Earlier, the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, in collaboration with the UK and France, organised the 'Bangladesh Aviation Summit-2023' for the first time in Dhaka in March 2023.