Apron area at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is at risk because of uncontrolled traffic movement. Apron officials say the risks are due to the increased speed of vehicles and the inefficiency of the drivers. They said, more than one accident occurred at the Apron area of Shahjalal International Airport. Although the speed of movement in the area is restricted, there is no system with speed meter due to lack of arrangements.

An airport official said, "Biman Bangladesh Airlines do its own ground handling work with its own machinery and manpower. At present, 26 foreigners and 4 domestic airlines flights are operated at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. These flights were used to load & unload the goods, fueling, flying aircraft, and to find the aircraft's mechanical investigations.  

On condition of anonymity, an airport official said, "The apron area is so sensitive and the Civil Aviation Authority has set the maximum speed limit of 15 kilometers per hour in traffic movement. Apart from this, about the movement of the vehicles in the Apron area, permission of the drivers has to take from the Civil Aviation. However, the maximum speed limit for the movement of apron area in the airport is 15 kilometers but there is no speed meter for the observation.'  

In fact, one of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines (Boeing 737-800) aircraft was hit on October 10 by a belt loader. While preparing to fly from Dhaka to Nepal, the belt loader was turned off when the luggage shutters closed and some of the engine's blades were damaged.

General Manager of Biman Bangladesh Airlines (PR) Shakil Meraaj said, ‘Biman's Ground handling Service officials, transport department officials, engineering & Trafficking service officials work in the Apron and runway area. Biman has already taken some actions to increase the RASP's Safety awareness.

Photo: Sazzad Hossain