CAAV affirms Vietnam does not lack parking lots for private aircrafts

Deputy Head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) Lai Xuan Thanh has reassured the public that the strategy on airport network development of Vietnam also considers the development of the parking lots specifically reserved for private aircrafts.

The information that a Vietnamese company has imported four private helicopters has raised worries and debate among the public. Some people believe that it is necessary to tighten the control over the use of private helicopters in Vietnam for the safety reason. Others think that it is necessary to create more favorable conditions so as to encourage more and more people to possess private helicopters.

Especially, worries have been raised that the private aircrafts cannot fly in Vietnam because of the lack of a legal framework, safety standards, and the places for the aircrafts to park. However, Deputy Head of CAAV Lai Xuan Thanh has reassured the public that all the problems mentioned above have been considered by the management agencies, affirming that Vietnam will not lack the parking lots for private aircrafts.

Could you please tell us how Vietnam has been preparing in terms of infrastructure development for the fact Vietnamese people now have more and more private aircrafts?

You should be informed that not only now when private aircraft appear, do the management agencies think about the infrastructure development. In the aviation industry, the infrastructure development always needs to go one step ahead. As you may know, the operational airlines have increased the numbers of aircraft in use, while foreign airlines have increased the flight frequency. All these have put a certain pressure on the air infrastructure, especially the two biggest airports of Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat.

However, Vietnam is developing 21 airports, and no need to worry about the lack of parking lots for private aircrafts.

However, Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat are now under a hard pressure. Even traditional commercial aircraft also meet problems in parking lots, especially in rush hours. Once more and more private aircrafts appear, the pressure on the air infrastructure has become harder.

Therefore, as for Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat, we try to expand the airports until the land fund still allows the expansion.

The air traffic jam occurs usually. Sometimes passengers have to take several circles in the sky for 30 minutes before finding a place to land. How will CAAV deal with the problem in order to have more parking lots for private aircrafts?

It is true that the air traffic jam occurs at some big airports, but this only happens occasionally.

I have to say that the main characteristic of Vietnam is that airports are being used both for civil and military purposes.

The traffic jam occurs only at peak hours. There are three peak hours at Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai. I think that private aircrafts can arrange their departure and landing time themselves to avoid the peak hours.

Why don’t you think of using the Gia Lam airport to ease the overloading of Noi Bai airport?

We are also planning to use Gia Lam airport again after a period of interruption. The airport is small which only fits small aircraft, especially private aircraft. We have completed our plan, but when it can be put into operation still depends on the capital arrangement for upgrading the airport.

Private airports have appeared in many countries in the world. How about Vietnam?

The Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Law does not prohibit different economic sectors to make investment to develop airports. Besides, the airport network approved by the Prime Minister, specific airports could also be built in order to better satisfy the demand.

At present, all the airports belong to the State, while specific airports belong to businesses and agencies. For example, the airports at the oil rigs belong to oil and gas companies, while the airports on the top of hospitals belong to the hospitals. However, all the airports have to follow some common regulations on the standards for operation and safety standards.