Chattogram: Airmen Training Institute of Bangladesh Air Force was awarded CAAB ANO (AW) Part 147 Approved Maintenance Training and Examination Organisation Certificate by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh at a ceremony held on February 20 at the training institute in Patenga, Chattogram.

Air Vice-Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, Chairman of CAAB handed over the certificate to Air Commodore AFM Atiquzzaman, Commandant of ATI while Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat, Chief of Air Staff of BAF was present on the occasion as the chief guest.

The Air Chief Marshal in his speech expressed satisfaction to ATI of BAF for achieving the desired milestone. He also thanked CAAB for their co-operation throughout the process. He hoped that this approval will pave the way for experienced BAF aircraft technicians to switch into the civil aviation industry in the future to fulfill the growing demand for skilled human resources.

In his view, this will keep the door open for BAF to engage more with the civil aviation industry enhancing civil–military relations. Soon this institute will be producing a huge number of certified aviation maintenance technicians to be directly utilized in nation-building through the aviation industries.

The resulting economic progress will subsequently fulfill Forces Goal 2030, aid the nation in attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and achieve the national aspiration to become a developed nation by 2041, Serniabat said.

He also urged that this institute will transform into an Education 4.0 Institution soon, to lead Bangladesh in switching into the vital aviation hub of the region.

The Chairman of CAAB congratulated ATI for their compliance to CAAB’s world standard requirements – redesigning their training system.

He hoped that in the coming days, ATI certification will play a greater role to reduce dependency on overseas aviation engineers and meet the demand of the expected growth of aviation in Bangladesh.

With such a step forward, ATI is going to be one of the largest aviation training and examination organizations in Asia which will eventually attract potential overseas trainees as well as open the door of newer possibilities, said Rahman.

High officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh were also present at the ceremony.