The first aircraft approaches runway 1 at Long Thanh Airport

At around 6:10 a.m. on September 26, the Beech King Air 350ER aircraft, registration number B350, conducted a calibration flight at Long Thanh Airport. This milestone was the first in a series of calibration flights expected to take place over the next month.

Calibration flights are a mandatory technical procedure used to inspect, assess, and finalize aviation equipment systems, ensuring absolute safety before Long Thanh Airport officially enters operation.

The aircraft approaches the runway at Long Thanh Airport in front of the air traffic control tower. Photo: Pham Tung

According to the flight plan approved by the Department of Operations (Ministry of National Defense), the calibration flights will take place from September 26 to October 24, 2025. The aircraft used is the specialized Beech King Air 350ER, which is chosen by many countries for calibration operations due to its high maneuverability, stability, and ability to meet strict technical requirements.

During this flight series, Air Traffic Technical Company Limited (ATTECH), a member unit of Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation Company Limited (VATM), will calibrate a range of important systems at Long Thanh Airport, including two precision landing support systems ILS/DME, one VOR/DME navigation system, one airport lighting system, radar and ADS-B monitoring systems, and flight procedures related to these systems.

The organization and execution of the calibration flights are directly carried out by ATTECH. The team includes seasoned experts from ATTECH, along with specialists from the Czech Air Navigation Institute, operating under flight permit No. 3792/TC-QC. The involvement of international experts not only ensures objectivity but also enhances the credibility and reliability of the entire evaluation process.

The aircraft approaches the runway at Long Thanh Airport in front of the passenger terminal. Photo: Pham Tung

To ensure absolute safety and efficiency, a coordination meeting was held on September 16 before the calibration flights. The meeting included multiple units under VATM (Southern Air Traffic Management Company, ATTECH, Air Traffic Flow Management Center, Vietnam Aeronautical Information Center, Aviation Meteorology Center…), the Long Thanh Airport Project Management Board (ACV), and the 370th Air Division. All parties agreed on procedures and coordination plans to ensure that all calibration flight activities are conducted safely, accurately, and on schedule.

Once phase 1 is completed, Long Thanh Airport will have the capacity to handle 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year, helping to reduce the load on Tan Son Nhat Airport and establishing itself as a regional hub for international air transport. Under the Prime Minister's directive, construction of Long Thanh Airport must be essentially completed by the end of 2025 and enter commercial operation in the first half of 2026.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Minh Hanh, Minho