Plane first approaches Long Thanh airport runway

Beech King Air 350ER aircraft flies close to runway 1 of Long Thanh airport to check the systems - Photo: AB

At 6:10 a.m., a Beech King Air 350ER approached runway 1 at Long Thanh airport. After hovering close to the runway to check the lighting system, the plane accelerated and climbed back up.

Beech King Air 350ER is the aircraft line chosen by many countries in calibration activities thanks to its flexible maneuverability, high stability and ability to meet strict technical requirements.

During this flight, Air Traffic Management Engineering Company Limited (ATTECH), a member unit of Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM), calibrated a series of important systems at Long Thanh airport.

Specifically, it includes two ILS/DME precision landing support systems, a VOR/DME navigation system, an airport beacon system, radar surveillance systems and ADS-B; and flight procedures related to the above equipment.

Calibration flights will be conducted day and night, under various conditions, thereby comprehensively evaluating the accuracy and stability of aviation equipment systems.

The evaluation flight will last nearly a month, from now until October 24 - Photo: AB

The organization and implementation of calibration flights are directly operated by ATTECH. The participating team includes experienced experts from ATTECH and experts from the Czech Air Navigation Academy.

The participation of international experts not only ensures objectivity, but also enhances the prestige and reliability of the entire assessment process.

According to VATM, flight inspection, calibration and evaluation of flight methods are mandatory and important steps in the roadmap to put Long Thanh airport into operation.

The flight is to test, evaluate, ensure the accuracy and integrity of equipment systems ensuring flight operations according to standards prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and assess the suitability of new flight methods.

Calibration aircraft passes through the air traffic control tower area - Photo: AB

To ensure the flight is absolutely safe and effective, the relevant parties previously held a coordination conference. The meeting was attended by many units under VATM, Long Thanh Airport Project Management Board (ACV) and Air Division 370.

At this meeting, the parties agreed on the process and coordination plan to ensure all calibration flights take place safely, accurately and on schedule.

Calibration flight is a mandatory technical step to check, evaluate and complete aviation equipment systems, ensuring absolute safety before Long Thanh airport officially comes into operation. According to the plan, the calibration flight will last from September 26 to October 24.

Long Thanh Airport Phase 1, when completed, will have a capacity to serve 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year, contributing to reducing the load on Tan Son Nhat Airport.

After completing all phases, Long Thanh airport will reach a capacity of up to 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo/year. At the same time, it will become an international aviation transit center of the region.

According to the Prime Minister 's request, Long Thanh airport must basically complete construction by the end of 2025 and be put into commercial operation in the first half of 2026.