Biman: A showcase of antics
Saif, Dhaka
Two 26-year old F-28 aircraft is set to 'enrich' the fleet of Biman, the national airlines. The 1977-model planes have been bought at a cost of $2.91 million from Indonesian Hiebert Group Ltd. Our fleet already had three of them. These outdated models are not technically sound to fly in the hilly region and the maintenance cost is 35 percent higher than a similar aircraft. Biman has already taken measures to get back-up engines though the managing director claims that they "are still in good condition". Biman's love affair with the obsolete aircraft has gone against the recommendation of the Biman's fleet planning committee's modernisation plan. I think soon Biman itself will become a tourist attraction. That day is not very far when people from round the globe will come to Bangladesh to pay a visit to Biman, the only museum where all kinds of obsolete aircraft are available.
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