Arirang Aviation Ltd, a sister concern of Youngone Group, started its chartered operations and international standard flying school on Saturday.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader inaugurated the flying school and chartered operations at a programme at the newly built Arirang Hangar Complex at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Ambassador of Republic of Korea Taiyoung Cho, Civil Aviation Secretary Atharul Islam, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Air Commodore Mahmud Hussain and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Youngone Group Kihak Sung spoke on the occasion.
"We've invested $28 million from our own cash capital and are hoping for future investment with the expansion of the business," Arirang's Chief Pilot and Executive Director Sikder Mesbahuddin told The Daily Star.
Arirang started its flying school in December last year with eight students who will have 150 hours flying experience. The two-year course will cost them Tk 30 lakh each.
Mesbahuddin also said their chartered operation with four aircraft will be started soon. He said all the aircraft will be used as air ambulance as those are fitted with modern medical evacuation equipment.
Now the flying school has 16 students as the second batch enrolled in July this year, said Flying Operation Manager Sarower Hossain.
"I got admitted into this school as it got new training planes -- a Cessna 152 and a Cirrus generation 3rd aircraft -- and has the most modern equipment," said Hossain who himself is a student.
The tourism minister welcomed Youngone Group CEO and said: "Such business is now a necessity. There is a dearth of pilots and chartered air services. The new Arirang Aviation ventures will meet the growing demands in this sector."
He said Youngone Flight Department is the pioneer in corporate flight operation for the last 12 years with excellent flight safety records. He pledged to ensure safe and secure flying and international standard training to pilots. The minister also pledged to extend all out co-operation to Sung.
"Youngone's this new investment will strengthen the friendly relationship between South Korea and Bangladesh," said Korean ambassador. He emphasised on investment between the countries which would help each other.