New Zealand Prime Minister John Key had a visit to the Hanoi Air Traffic Control Center (ATCC Hanoi)

The Prime Minister with the delegation joined a tour in the Hanoi Area Control Center. Mr. Dinh Viet Thang – Chairman of Vietnam Air Traffic Management, together with other leaders of the corporation presented the introduction to the Prime Minister and the delegation about the facilities and VATM’s ability to provide air traffic management services, as well as the modern technical systems being operated in the ACC Hanoi. The Prime Minister observed the controllers’ working positions and expressed his impression and high appreciation to the modern ATC facility of Viet Nam, which he classified at the same level of countries with developed air traffic management industry.

Mr. Dinh Viet Thang – Chairman of Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation presented the introduction to the Prime Minister about the modern technical systems being operated in the  Ha Noi ACC. 

In the 3D TWR Similator room, the Prime Minister had a chance to experience the exercises of controlling taking off and landing flights in the scenarios designed by instructors of New Zealand, which have been used to train trainees of Vietnam. The Director of the North Region Air Traffic Services Company (NORATS) introduced the functions of the 3D SIM system to the Prime Minister. By this system, the air traffic controllers are allowed to practice in the operation environment simulated to daily operation, the scenarios are designed simulatedly with the real operation. In fact, every air traffic controller has to join hundreds of hours of training with this system before being allowed to work in the real system and they also have to join refresher training courses every year in order to improve their skills in controlling flights, in accordance with the prequisite target of safety.

Prior to the visit of the Prime Minister, Vice Minister of Transport of Vietnam – Mr. Nguyen Nhat hosted the courtesy call of Mr. Steven Joyce – Minister of Education and Business Development of New Zealand with the aviation business delegation at the VIP lounge of the NORATS. In attendance from Vietnam side, there were senior leaders of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Vietnam Air Traffic Corporation and other enterprises in the aviation industry of Vietnam.

Vice Minister of Transport of Vietnam – Mr. Nguyen Nhat hosted the courtesy call of Mr. Steven Joyce 

During the meeting,  Vice Minister Nguyen Nhat represented his appreciation to the collaboration and its achievements contributed by the two countries. Besides, Mr. Nguyen Nhat affirmed that “The Ministry of Transport encourages New Zealand’s enterprises to keep their interest and to invest  in the areas of aviation infrastructure, restructurization process in the ownership in aviation enterprises of Vietnam. The Ministry of Transport offers its willingness to welcome New Zealand’s partners to join infrastructure projects for transport generally and for aviation particularly”. The Vice Minister also proposed the two parties to appoint related stakeholders to promote and implement the Agreement on Collaboration signed between the two Ministries, as a part of official activities during the visit of the Prime Minister John Key.  For the Memorandom of Understanding signed by Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation and Airways New Zealand, the Vice Minister recommended the two parties to enhance communications, exchanges to implement it effectively, in order to improve the quality of the human resource of VATM.

On this occasion, the New Zealand Embasssy collaborated with the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam to organize Viet Nam – New Zealand aviation seminar. The seminar received the participation of more than 70 representatives from the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Vietnamese and New Zealand enterperises in aviation area. The working agenda majorly focused on the investment of aviation infrastructure, air traffic management, air transportation and training.

In the afternoon of 15 November 2015, Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation and Airways New Zealand also signed the Memorandom of Understanding (MOU) with the witness of The Minister of Transport of Vietnam – Dinh La Thang and The Minister of Education and Business Development of New Zealand – Steven Joyce. The signed MOU is a general agreement, describing the frame of collaboration, which is not a legal bond. Base on this MOU, the two parties will specify the collaboration plan for each year in a specific contract to be signed by the parties for the year.

The visit of the New Zealand Prime Minister to the Hanoi Air Traffic Control Center was a great honour and pride for Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation, marking a new milestone on the way of the Corporation for the globalization and development progress. Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation in general and the North Region Air Traffic Services Company hosted the visit in a solemn way, complying with the courtesy manner as well as representing the honour and delightful spirit to welcome the highest leader of the country with a longterm and reputable relationship with Vietnam to visit the Hanoi Air Traffic Control Center.

                                                                                        Editorial board