Test flight at Long Thanh airport in December

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed units to basically complete Long Thanh airport by December 31. At the same time, test the first flight at this time to put the project into operation, celebrating major events of the country.

Should build a train connecting Tan Son Nhat with Long Thanh

At 9:00 p.m. on March 20, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh finished his working session with the investor and contractors of the Long Thanh airport project after surveying the construction progress and connecting traffic routes in the afternoon.

The delegation presented gifts to encourage engineers and workers building the road connecting Long Thanh airport. Photo: Minh Tue

Concluding the meeting, the Prime Minister reiterated the goal of basically completing Long Thanh airport by the end of this year. We must move quickly to complete the airport early to celebrate major national events. "By December 31, we must have the first test flight," the Prime Minister reiterated the timeline.

Going into details of the component projects, in which component project 1, the construction of headquarters of the State management agencies of the Ministry of Agriculture is slow but the unit has promised to complete it by December 31, the Prime Minister requested to establish a specific schedule, "clear people, clear work, clear responsibilities".

With component project 2 (flight management works) being able to be tested by October, the Prime Minister requested that the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) coordinate closely with the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) to be ready for calibration flights.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Minister Tran Hong Minh encouraged workers constructing Long Thanh airport. Photo: Minh Tue

The Prime Minister assessed that the heaviest workload is the third component project (terminal, runway, parking lot, and access road). Currently, all bid packages are progressing well, of which the connecting road has reached over 75%. The Prime Minister requested to continue to accelerate the construction of bid packages to complete by December 31.

Regarding component project 4, which has not yet been implemented in the field, the Prime Minister assessed that the progress is very worrying, including the aircraft maintenance hangar. The Prime Minister suggested that hangars 1 and 2 be assigned to Vietnam Airlines for implementation; and lots 3 and 4 be assigned to Vietjet for implementation. He noted that national interests must be put first, ensuring long-term maintenance services for domestic and foreign airlines. Although not yet implemented in practice, the Prime Minister also requested units to speed up to complete before December 31.

Regarding the source of sand and stone materials for construction, the Prime Minister requested Dong Nai province to try to complete procedures to open new mines, increase capacity, and ensure the supply volume for investors.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister requested that Long Thanh airport must be basically completed by December. Photo: Minh Tue

Regarding the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, the Prime Minister praised Ba Ria - Vung Tau province and the contractors for their excellent work in constructing component 3. The section invested by Project Management Board 85 must be completed this year. Component 1 through Dong Nai province also tried to speed up site clearance, working in 3 shifts and 4 shifts to complete it early.

In addition, the Prime Minister also suggested building a connecting road from Tan Son Nhat airport to Long Thanh airport, preferably by subway, which may be more expensive but is stable in the long term.

Ribbon cutting ceremony for Long Thanh airport opening at the end of the year

Previously, reporting to the working delegation, Deputy Minister of Construction Pham Minh Ha said that for Long Thanh airport, investors and contractors are currently making efforts to speed up construction progress.

With component project 1 (airport headquarters, customs headquarters, immigration management department, local police headquarters) being accelerated, it will be put into operation in December. Particularly, the animal quarantine agency headquarters will start construction before May and is expected to be completed in December.

Component 2 project (air traffic control works), the air traffic control tower has completed the rough construction, the steel structure of the tower top is being installed. Construction will be completed in June, equipment installation will begin by the end of September, testing will begin in October and operation will begin in December.

Panorama of Long Thanh airport project. Photo: Minh Tue

Component 3 project (terminal, runway, apron, airport access road) basic bid packages meet the required progress. Passenger terminal with many items completed, main roof is about to be pulled. T1 connecting road is basically open to traffic; runway is expected to be completed before April 30.

The Component 4 project (cargo terminal, cargo warehouse, aircraft cleaning area, ground equipment maintenance area, in-flight catering area) has selected investors. The investors are committed to completing it by December. The current problem is dividing the work among the units. Both Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are interested in investing in these items and are committed to completing them by December.

Reporting in detail on the Component 3 project, Mr. Nguyen Tien Viet, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) said that the concrete runway has been completed, and the asphalt paving will be completed in just 30 days. The T1 connecting route will be open to traffic before April 30, and the T2 route will be open to traffic on September 2. The apron package was expected to be completed in August but has been rescheduled and is expected to be basically completed by December 31.

The most difficult is the internal port infrastructure package (considered the lifeblood of the project) with an investment of 11,000 billion VND, which is scheduled to be completed by September 2026, but the contractor is trying to reschedule to complete it by December 31. The automatic fuel supply package is expected to complete construction by December 31, and imported operating equipment will be installed later.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspects the passenger terminal of Long Thanh airport.

Mr. Viet said that ACV leaders are on their way to negotiate with equipment manufacturers to try to shorten the delivery time, trying to deliver all of it and install it early this year. Package 5.10 (passenger terminal) is the heart of the project, wing 1 has been roofed, wings 2 and 3 are 60% done, and by May, the first phase of roofing will be completed.

"At the end of December, we can take a technical flight and cut the ribbon to inaugurate Long Thanh airport," Mr. Viet affirmed.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/thu-tuong-bay-thu-nghiem-o-san-bay-long-thanh-trong-thang-12-192250320210951027.htm