Kick-off meeting between VATM and MITRE for Technical assistance on development of ATM and ATFM in Viet Nam

Tuesday, August 10, 2024, at VATM’s headquarters, VATM and MITRE held a kick-off meeting for the implementation of USTDA Technical Assistance on development of ATM automation system ConOps and ATFM system requirements in Viet Nam (TA for ATM and ATFM in Viet Nam).  

Mr. Stephen L. Green, U.S. Commercial Counselor in Viet Nam, along with representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Ministry of Transport of Viet Nam; Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam; Viet Nam Airports Corporation and airlines in Viet Nam attended the Meeting. 

The Contract was signed by VATM and MITRE on 09 July 2024, following the Grant Agreement signed between USTDA and VATM for the TA in September 2023.

At the opening remarks, Mr. Le Hoang Minh, VATM Chairman expressed gratitude for supports from relevant agencies for this TA. He emphasized: “This TA aims to provide the functional requirements and technical specifications needed for an ATFM system to support integrated distribution ATFM implementaition (VID-ATFM) and enable VATM to meet Viet Nam’s specific ATFM operational requirements. These include providing fuctional requirementss and technical specifications needed for VATM to implement, upgrade, and procure the ATFM system in three parts: near term, medium term and far term.”

“ Through  TA the "Concept of Operations" (ConOps) for the ATM system and high-level functional requirements for modern ized ATM  automation  systems  shall  be defined, integrating with the ATM system vision and airspace design. This will also assist VATM in developing specific and detailed technical requirements for the ATM system to achieve the most suitable ATM automation systems aligned with the design of Vie t Nam  's two Flight Information Regions (FIRs). ”, said by VATM’s Chairman. 

Ms. Juliana Goh, Assistance Director, International, The MITRE Corporation thanked VATM, the U.S. Embassy, and USTDA for their support in the previous TA on developing Viet Nam’s ATFM Master Plan, which was also implemented by MITRE. For the current ATM and ATFM project, Ms. Juliana Goh believed that the information and data collected during the kick-off meeting and the site visits over the next two weeks will assist MITRE and VATM to succeffully implement this TA. 

Mr. Stephen Green, US Commercial Counselor affirmed that the collaboration is a testament to the growing ties between the United States and Viet Nam. He also believed through this partnership, VATM will be equipped with the advanced tools needed to manage air traffic safely and effectively and to integrate with future ATFM systems. The results of the TA will significantly contribute to Viet Nam's aviation modernization goals. 

Following the kick- off meeting, the MITRE expert team will visit relevant facilities of VATM  and other relevant stakeholders to gather information and data, ensuring the successful implementation of the TA.  

H.L