Shah Amanat International Airport
Encyclopedia
Shah Amanat International Airport , (Bengali
:শাহ আমানত আন্তর্জাতিক বিমানবন্দর, Śhā Amānat Antarjātik Bimānbandar) named after an Islam
ic saint, is an international airport serving Bangladesh
's south-eastern port city of Chittagong
and the Bangladesh Air Force
. It is Bangladesh's second largest airport. It was formerly known as MA Hannan International Airport but was renamed on 2 April 2005 by the government of Bangladesh. The move was controversial since the previous name honored a member of the Awami League who were the opposition party at the time. The airport handles about 21% of Bangladesh's air traffic, almost 66% of it is handled by Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka
, nearly 4% by Osmani International Airport and the remaining 9% by Bangladesh's 5 domestic airports.
) west from the city's main commercial hub, GEC Circle and 18.5 km south of the city's railway station on the North bank of the Karnaphuli River
. There are no hotels or restaurants near the airport.
and Chittagong
, but in the mid 1990s Bangladesh Airlines
started international flights to Dubai
& a few Saudi Arabian cities and the airport officially became an international airport.
The upgrade modernized the terminal building with new and better seats, more counters, better security equipment and many other facilities. The Air Traffic Control tower also received new hi-tech equipment such as 3-D radars. The runway, taxiway and the tarmac were expanded and improved.
The improvements turned the airport into a modern international airport. After the upgrade, any large aircraft such as the A380
or the Antonov An-225
could land easily.
Etihad Airways
service Chittagong to Abu Dhabi routes via Dhaka, however they don't have traffic rights between Dhaka and Chittagong.
can be parked at once there. The parking points are usually empty as most of the planes that arrive there takeoff soon after and the planes of local airlines are generally parked at Shahjalal International Airport overnight. A small civil plane hanger, belonging to Biman
is available but is rarely used.
The Bangladesh military have a parking zone and 2 plane hangers right of the runway at the airport. The Bangladesh Air Force keep a few planes here which have direct access to runway.
Both VIP parking zones are located beside the terminal, one left and one right. The one on the left is for people who work at the airport or one of the airlines that use the airport, such as pilots or air traffic controllers. The other is used by the media or any celebrity.
, the airport was used as a combat airfield, as well as a supply point and photographic reconnaissance base by the United States Army Air Force Tenth Air Force
during the Burma Campaign 1944-1945
.
Known American units assigned to Chittagong were:
From the airport, the 4th CCG C-46's flew supplies and ammunition which were air-dropped to the advancing Allied forces on the ground. At the end of June, control of the airport was returned to local authorities.
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
:শাহ আমানত আন্তর্জাতিক বিমানবন্দর, Śhā Amānat Antarjātik Bimānbandar) named after an Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic saint, is an international airport serving Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
's south-eastern port city of Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
and the Bangladesh Air Force
Bangladesh Air Force
The Bangladesh Air Force , is the air arm of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Bangladesh Air Force currently employs more than 22,000 personnel including 600+ Pilots.-History:...
. It is Bangladesh's second largest airport. It was formerly known as MA Hannan International Airport but was renamed on 2 April 2005 by the government of Bangladesh. The move was controversial since the previous name honored a member of the Awami League who were the opposition party at the time. The airport handles about 21% of Bangladesh's air traffic, almost 66% of it is handled by Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, nearly 4% by Osmani International Airport and the remaining 9% by Bangladesh's 5 domestic airports.
Location
The airport is located in the Patenga area of the city, 20 kilometers (13 mi; 11 NMNautical mile
The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
) west from the city's main commercial hub, GEC Circle and 18.5 km south of the city's railway station on the North bank of the Karnaphuli River
Karnaphuli River
Karnaphuli is a wide river in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh. Originating from the Lushai hills in Mizoram, India, it flows southwest through Chittagong Hill Tracts and Chittagong into the Bay of Bengal. A large hydroelectric power plant using Karnaphuli river was built in the Kaptai...
. There are no hotels or restaurants near the airport.
History
The airport was built in the early 1940s under the British rule, it officially became a Bangladeshi airport in 1972 after Bangladesh's liberation war. At first it was mainly used for connecting DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
and Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
, but in the mid 1990s Bangladesh Airlines
Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Biman Bangladesh Airlines , partly transcribed from English into Bengali and the other way around) is the flag carrier airline of Bangladesh. Its main hub is at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, and also operates flights from Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong, earning revenue...
started international flights to Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
& a few Saudi Arabian cities and the airport officially became an international airport.
2005-06 Renovation and Expansion
In 2005 a major renovation & expansion began at the airport, it ended in 2006. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh received financial assistance from the Japanese government for the upgrade.The upgrade modernized the terminal building with new and better seats, more counters, better security equipment and many other facilities. The Air Traffic Control tower also received new hi-tech equipment such as 3-D radars. The runway, taxiway and the tarmac were expanded and improved.
The improvements turned the airport into a modern international airport. After the upgrade, any large aircraft such as the A380
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
or the Antonov An-225
Antonov An-225
The Antonov An-225 Mriya is a strategic airlift cargo aircraft, designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the 1980s. It is the world's heaviest aircraft. The design, built in order to transport the Buran orbiter, was an enlargement of the successful An-124 Ruslan...
could land easily.
Terminal, Airlines and destinations
The airport has one Terminal building divided into two parts; International and Domestic with a boarding bridge in each of them. The International part of the Terminal is larger in size compared to the Domestic one due to higher number of people flying to foreign destinations. The building is also divided into two floors; The lower floor is used for checking in, boarding or getting off small planes and receiving luggage while the upper floor is used for boarding or getting off large planes only.Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways is the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates. Established in July 2003 and based at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad commenced operations in November 2003....
service Chittagong to Abu Dhabi routes via Dhaka, however they don't have traffic rights between Dhaka and Chittagong.
Air Traffic Control tower
The airport's Air Traffic Control tower is located just 50 meters left of the airport terminal. It has a clear view of the tarmac and taxiway but is far away from the runway. Heavy rain or fog can make it difficult for controllers to see plains taking off or landing.Main Facilities
- Cargo Handling Facilities: Manual
- Fuel/oil type: SAG 100/130 octane, JET A-1, Av Gas 100 LL
- Re-Fueling rate: approximately 500 I.G. per minute per refueller
- Medical Facilities: First Aid treatment and two ambulances available at the airport.
- Fire Fighting: Category 7 (AD)
- Rescue Equipment: Category 7 (ICAO)
- Backup Power: Standby generator available
Parking Facilities
Like most airports, Shah Amanat airport has parking facilities for both cars and planes.Planes
The tarmac, or aircraft parking zone of the airport is located directly behind the terminal and left of the runway. Up to 6 jumbo sized planes such as 747sBoeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
can be parked at once there. The parking points are usually empty as most of the planes that arrive there takeoff soon after and the planes of local airlines are generally parked at Shahjalal International Airport overnight. A small civil plane hanger, belonging to Biman
Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Biman Bangladesh Airlines , partly transcribed from English into Bengali and the other way around) is the flag carrier airline of Bangladesh. Its main hub is at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, and also operates flights from Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong, earning revenue...
is available but is rarely used.
The Bangladesh military have a parking zone and 2 plane hangers right of the runway at the airport. The Bangladesh Air Force keep a few planes here which have direct access to runway.
Cars
Shah Amanat airport has three parking zones, one civil and two VIP. The civil one is located just in front of the terminal, it has a capacity of 360 cars. This zone is usually loaded with public transport, mostly auto-rickshaws and micro-buses. The zone is made of concrete and asphalt, surrounded by a grass patch.Both VIP parking zones are located beside the terminal, one left and one right. The one on the left is for people who work at the airport or one of the airlines that use the airport, such as pilots or air traffic controllers. The other is used by the media or any celebrity.
Incidents and Accidents
- 23 March 2005: Inclement weather forced two BimanBiman Bangladesh AirlinesBiman Bangladesh Airlines , partly transcribed from English into Bengali and the other way around) is the flag carrier airline of Bangladesh. Its main hub is at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, and also operates flights from Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong, earning revenue...
flights heading for Dhaka to make emergency landings at the airport.
- 1 July 2005: Flight BG048 from Dubai to Dhaka via Chittagong skidded off runway 23 onto the grass at Shah Amanat International Airport while landing during heavy rain. The right-hand undercarriage of the McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 caught fire. Ten passengers were injured while exiting the aircraft. An enquiry found no faults with the aircraft and put the blame for the accident on the incompetence of the pilot, whose employment was later terminated.
- 10 September 2008: A bomb hoax on Air ArabiaAir ArabiaAir Arabia is a low-cost airline with its head office in the Sharjah Freight Center, Sharjah International Airport, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates....
flight G90522 caused red alert at the airport. A flight attendant found a note on the plane saying "There is a bomb set", the captain alerted Air Traffic control for a possible emergency and received high-priority landing status at the airport. The plane was taken to the military zone of the airport where it was searched by bomb experts but no bomb was found. Later, all 81 passengers were asked to provide a handwriting sample and security officials arrested a Bangladeshi man who later confessed his crime.
- 13 October 2011: Regent AirwaysRegent Airways.Regent Airways is a Bangladeshi airline formed in 2010 by HG Aviation Limited, a subsidiary of the Habib Group. Regent Airways currently operates 2 x Dash 8-300 to five destinations within Bangladesh.-Bangladesh:* Dhaka Hub* Chittagong...
flight RX 719, a Dash 8 which was suppose to takeoff from Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka bound for Chittagong at 7:40 pm had an engine failure before the flight. This had left about 50 passengers grounded at Dhaka and another 56 at Chittagong who were suppose to fly to Dhaka with the same plane as RX 720. The passengers in Dhaka finally took off at about 10:30 pm with Regent's other Dash 8, which was in Jessore during the incident. This incident caused a schedule chaos which had delayed many other Regent flights afterwards.
World War II
Known as Chittagong Airfield during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the airport was used as a combat airfield, as well as a supply point and photographic reconnaissance base by the United States Army Air Force Tenth Air Force
Tenth Air Force
The Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
during the Burma Campaign 1944-1945
Burma Campaign 1944-1945
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, who were assisted to some degree by Thailand, the Burmese Independence Army and the Indian National Army...
.
Known American units assigned to Chittagong were:
- 80th Fighter Group, flew P-38 LightningP-38 LightningThe Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
fighters over Burma between March 1944 and February 1945. - 8th Reconnaissance Group8th Reconnaissance GroupThe 8th Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last duty station was at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, where it was inactivated on 5 November 1945....
, between October and December 1944 (various detachments) - 4th Combat Cargo Group4th Combat Cargo GroupThe 4th Combat Cargo Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization that served in Tenth Air Force as part of the China Burma India Theater of World War II.-Overview:...
, flew C-46 CommandoC-46 CommandoThe Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
transports between January and June 1945.
From the airport, the 4th CCG C-46's flew supplies and ammunition which were air-dropped to the advancing Allied forces on the ground. At the end of June, control of the airport was returned to local authorities.