VN authority tightens aviation safety

HÀ NỘI — The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has asked airlines, airport authorities and air traffic management officials to tighten supervision to ensure aviation safety.

The request follows recent incidents in the sector, particularly the Vietnam Airlines flight landing incorrectly in a runway that has not yet been put into use at Cam Ranh International Airport in the central province of Khánh Hòa.

Under the instructions dated May 2, the CAAV asked Vietnam Airlines pilots to make thorough preparations before flights, including studying the structure of the landing airport. They are also required to make contact with the air traffic control station of the airport to get meteorological information as well as landing methods and runway guidelines as early as possible.

The pilots must strictly adhere to aviation regulations, double check important information and report unusual signs that may confuse the pilot and threaten safety.

On April 29, Vietnam Airlines flight VN-7344, which departed from HCM City at 2:00pm carrying a seven-member crew and 203 passengers, touched down on a runway that was under construction at Cam Ranh Airport in Khánh Hòa Province at 2:53pm the same day. No one was hurt in the incident. All crewmembers and air traffic management employees in charge of the flights have been suspended during an investigation.

Following the incident, Vietnam Airlines held an emergency meeting to review all operations at Cam Ranh Airport as well as in other airports to avoid similar incidents in future.

A team has been set up to work closely with the CAAV and competent agencies to investigate the case, Vietnam Airlines said.

According to the new instructions, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam and Cam Ranh Airport were ordered to strengthen supervision of the investor and contractor in ensuring security and safety of the runway construction project. Measures must be applied immediately to warn flights landing in the airport of the condition of the runway – which is under construction, it stated.

The Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation and the air traffic control unit of Cam Ranh Airport were requested to intensify monitoring of aircrafts’ movements from the time they approach the airport for landing until they exit the runway.

The CAAV said the occurrence was a severe breach of air safety and has opened an investigation into the incident. — LV