Visited the IMP CASCADE AEROSPACE at Abbotsford, Canada and continued the discussion with its new CEO on setting up a commercial MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhauling) Facility in Bangladesh. IC-130 series aircrafts of Bangladesh Air Force are often sent to this facility in Canada for MRO purposes.
Once this commercial MRO facility is set up, it would be a huge Canadian investment in Bangladesh and all the aircrafts - commercial and from airforce, from Bangladesh and also from neighbouring countries can be serviced (MRO purposes) at this local facility.
It will save significant amount of foreign currencies for the country. We also discussed how technicians from our Air Force can be trained in the CASCADE Academy at Abbotsford, Canada and how they can also work in this facility as foreign employees with the permission of our Government, as there is a huge demand of trained technicians at the CASCADE AEROSPACE MRO Facility in Abbotsford.
Canadian company IMP Cascade Aerospace is keen to set up a commercial aircraft-repairing facility, well known as an MRO facility, in Bangladesh.
Once completed, the project will help Bangladesh save foreign currencies and get skilled manpower in this trade, says Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada Dr Khalilur Rahman.
MRO stands for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul. In the aviation industry, MRO services are focused on the repair, service, maintenance, and/or inspection of aircraft.
MRO includes all of the tasks involved in keeping aircraft in safe and high-peforming operating conditions.
On its website, the company says: “Cascade is a leading Canadian aerospace and defence contractor with over 650 skilled professionals supporting military and civilian aircraft programs. Headquartered in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Cascade also has operations in Trenton and Ottawa, Ontario.
“The range of support on a diverse range of airframe platforms ensures our customers have access to a variety of scalable solutions to support their operational needs. At Cascade, our background supporting military aircraft, government aircraft, and commercial aircraft operators has provided us with the expertise necessary to support today's mixed fleets as they face today’s budget pressures.”
The envoy said: “When I was appointed the Bangladeshi HC in Canada, the prime minister tasked me with several responsibilities, including the Dhaka-Canada-Dhaka flights and the MRO facility.”
Stating that the Air Force chief, too, is aware of Cascade Aerospace’s planned venture in Bangladesh, Khalilur said: “I sat with the chief executive of the company last week.
“Establishing the facility will invite a huge Canadian investment.”
He hopes that both commercial and military aircraft will be repaired at the facility.
The aircraft fleet of the IC-130 series owned by Bangladesh is repaired and maintained by the Canadian company, the envoy said.
If approved, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University in Lalmonirhat will host the project. Engineers at the university have built two training aircraft in the last couple of years.
High hopes
All aircraft in the country will be repaired and maintained at the MRO facility while saving foreign exchange, creating skilled manpower, and generating employment opportunities.
On this front, envoy Khalilur said: “We went our aircraft abroad for repairs. But if we can do that at home, it will be a great relief for all.
“Additionally, if we can repair and maintain planes from neighbouring countries here in Bangladesh, we would be able to earn foreign currencies.”
Formal deal
The Bangladesh government and the Canadian company have already agreed in principle to establish the MRO facility, which will expire in a maximum of three years.
“The next course of action has to be determined before the agreement in principle becomes obsolete. Otherwise, discussions should be renewed between both parties,” Khalilur suggested.
“Cascade Aerospace authorities are very cordial in this regard. Now the authorities concerned (in Bangladesh) have to take proper measures accordingly,” the envoy concluded.
