by Tarek Alif 

Aviation safety concerns are mounting in Bangladesh after allegations that pilots of the national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, have been forced to operate far beyond legally permitted flight duty limits, a practice experts warn could endanger passengers and damage the country’s international aviation credibility.

An Aviation Express investigation has found that more than 500 safety reports submitted by Biman pilots over the past six months regarding excessive flight duty hours have reportedly gone unaddressed, raising serious questions about oversight by both airline management and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).

Industry insiders say the situation has pushed flight crews to the brink of exhaustion, potentially exposing Bangladesh’s aviation sector to international scrutiny.

Flying beyond legal limits

Bangladesh’s flight duty regulations, set under Air Navigation Order (ANO) 6-1, limit pilots to 1,000 flight hours within any consecutive 12-month period.

However, multiple internal sources and airline personnel told Aviation Express that pilots have been instructed to operate up to 1,200 hours annually, with some reportedly exceeding 1,400 hours within a single 12-month cycle.

Senior airline officials allegedly reassured crews that flight operations would continue regardless of regulatory limits.

Pilots who resisted operating beyond these limits faced threats of halted promotions, job insecurity, and intense psychological pressure, according to several crew members who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Warning signals ignored

Over the last six months alone, Biman pilots submitted more than 500 internal safety reports highlighting flight duty violations and fatigue risks.

Sources said these reports were lodged through the airline’s safety management system but failed to trigger corrective action.

Pilots also reportedly raised concerns directly with officials at CAAB’s flight safety division, including senior regulatory officers, yet investigations were never initiated.

Aviation specialists say ignoring such warnings undermines the Safety Management System (SMS) framework that airlines are required to maintain under international standards.

“Safety reports are meant to be early warning signals,” said a former aviation regulator. “If hundreds of them are ignored, it indicates a systemic failure in oversight.”

Human cost emerging

The toll on flight crews appears to be rising.

Sources inside Biman claim that six pilots have suffered heart attacks, two crew members lost consciousness during flight operations, several pilots underwent spinal surgeries, and one pilot became seriously ill mid-flight.

Medical experts warn that prolonged fatigue, irregular sleep cycles, and high stress can lead to cardiovascular complications and severe mental burnout.

Fatigue also carries operational consequences.

Aviation safety experts note that tired pilots experience slower reaction times, impaired decision-making, reduced situational awareness, and higher risk of operational error—factors historically linked to numerous global aviation accidents.

Regulatory gap

Bangladesh’s flight duty framework is broadly derived from European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards.

However, unlike European aviation systems, Bangladesh does not operate a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS)—a data-driven monitoring mechanism designed to track and mitigate fatigue risks.

Compounding the issue, CAAB has previously extended maximum flight duty limits beyond typical EASA thresholds.

Current regulations allow pilots to fly up to 120 hours per month and 1,200 hours annually, while cabin crew may reach 1,100 hours per year.

Experts say such extensions, combined with weak oversight, increase systemic safety vulnerability.

International compliance risks

The issue carries implications far beyond Biman’s internal operations.

Under ICAO Annex 6, airlines must strictly enforce crew rest and duty limitations to manage fatigue risks.

Persistent violations could trigger findings under ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).

In severe cases, such non-compliance can result in operational restrictions, mandatory corrective action plans, or reputational damage to a country’s aviation oversight regime.

For Bangladesh, already seeking to improve international aviation ratings and expand global connectivity, such scrutiny could prove costly.

Operational pressures

Officials within Biman attributed some of the pressure to pilot shortages, tight scheduling, and operational demands, particularly on busy domestic and regional routes.

Last-minute flight changes and limited reserve crew pools have further strained the system.

Similar concerns have reportedly surfaced at a private airline, indicating that the problem may not be limited to the national carrier.

Urgent reforms needed

Aviation safety analysts said the situation demands immediate intervention.

They recommend strict enforcement of flight duty limits, independent investigation of ignored safety reports, and urgent implementation of a Fatigue Risk Management System.

“Safety culture cannot be compromised for operational convenience,” said a former CAAB chairman. “When pilots are pushed beyond safe limits, the entire aviation system becomes vulnerable.”

For a country aspiring to expand international routes, attract airlines, and strengthen aviation credibility, the warning signs from within the cockpit are impossible to ignore.

Bangladesh’s aviation future may depend on how seriously regulators respond to the alarm now sounding across the flight deck.