Aviation safety must be the top priority.

This was the directive of the Minister of Transport , Tran Hong Minh, at the conference summarizing the work of 2024 and implementing the plan for 2025 of the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) on the afternoon of January 8th.

Strengthening discipline and providing the best possible air traffic control services.

At the conference, Acknowledging and commending the achievements of VATM over the past year, Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh stated that in 2024, VATM made significant contributions to Vietnamese civil aviation in particular and the transport sector in general, helping to safeguard national airspace sovereignty.

Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh gave directives at the conference summarizing the work of 2024 and implementing the plan for 2025 of the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (Photo: Ta Hai).

According to the Minister, the aviation industry faced many difficulties last year. Globally, geopolitical situations were unstable, the situation in the South China Sea was complex, and many unidentified aircraft appeared in the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City flight information regions.

Domestically, military activities utilizing airspace are increasing, and many flight operations are directly impacting civil aviation activities.

In that context, VATM has made many efforts to overcome difficulties in order to provide services and fulfill its assigned tasks.

Acknowledging the many limitations, challenges, and difficulties ahead, the leaders of the Ministry of Transport requested VATM to focus on improving operational efficiency to ensure flight safety.

"In aviation operations, safety must always be the top priority," Minister Tran Hong Minh emphasized, and requested that VATM continue to strengthen discipline and order, and be more decisive in providing the best flight operations services and ensuring the highest level of safety for all flights within its airspace.

At the same time, we will coordinate closely with relevant units to ensure absolute safety for all flights. We will inspect and monitor security and safety at service facilities to ensure safe flight operations.

The corporation needs effective solutions to ensure the technical systems of the supply chain maintain stable flight safety. Focus should be placed on upgrading equipment and adopting advanced technologies to optimize flight operations and meet the rapid growth of aviation activities.

Minister Tran Hong Minh urged VATM to aggressively accelerate the implementation of key projects in 2025 (Photo: Ta Hai).

The leaders of the Ministry of Transport also requested VATM to thoroughly address the shortcomings and limitations in investment and construction work. In particular, they urged decisively to accelerate the progress of key projects such as Component 2 of Long Thanh International Airport Project and the Ho Chi Minh Air Traffic Control Center Project.

"In 2025, VATM is requested to definitively resolve the issues of delayed projects. Strict action should be taken against officials and project management boards responsible for project delays," Minister Tran Hong Minh said, and urged businesses to learn from past experiences in the bidding process for air traffic management equipment.

Furthermore, the VATM leadership is also required to resolutely implement Resolution 18/TW, research and reorganize personnel, streamline the organizational structure, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the quality of human resources. They are also tasked with strengthening the fight against corruption and waste in accordance with State regulations.

Responding to the Minister's directives, Mr. Le Hoang Minh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM), affirmed that VATM will always maintain and promote the spirit of solidarity for the common development of the aviation industry in particular and the transportation sector in general.

Mr. Le Hoang Minh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM), affirmed that VATM will always maintain and promote the spirit of solidarity (Photo: Ta Hai).

Strengthening the fight against corruption, negative practices, and waste, especially in investment work, and resolutely ensuring that projects are completed on schedule and put into operation in a coordinated and efficient manner.

Mr. Minh stated that air traffic management has many unique characteristics, directly related to flight safety. Therefore, the VATM leadership is committed to effectively implementing the directives of the Ministry of Transport, ensuring maximum safety in air traffic control operations, contributing to the protection of the nation's airspace, and striving for VATM to continue to be one of the leading units in the transportation sector.

Ensuring absolute safety for flights within the area of ​​responsibility.

Earlier, reporting at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Cong Long, General Director of Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM), stated that last year, VATM's air traffic control volume was estimated at 864,725. This represents 114.23% of the number of trips made during the same period in 2023.

The company promptly, fully, and accurately implemented 11,360 emergency flight permits, operated 318 domestic and international charter flights, and 66 medical evacuation flights.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Long, General Director of Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation, reports at the conference (Photo: Ta Hai).

VATM's total air traffic control output in 2024 increased by nearly 14.23% compared to the same period in 2023. The number of incidents and accidents decreased by approximately 36.59%. This reflects the effectiveness of the safety management measures that have been and are being implemented.

Notably, according to the results of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s Universal Aviation Safety Inspection Program (USOAP) conducted in Vietnam from May 15-27, 2024, the inspection team gave a positive assessment with an overall score of 77.1% for the entire industry, higher than the current result (65.56%).

In particular, the Air Navigation Services (ANS) area received the highest rating, with a compliance rate of up to 96.67%. With this result, Vietnam has become one of the countries with the best USOAP assessment results in the region.

According to Mr. Long, over the past year, with the increase in air traffic volume, the company has faced and overcome many new challenges in air traffic management, and has also made significant progress in improving processes and applying modern technology. VATM's air traffic control service facilities have ensured coordination, command, and control of air traffic with absolute safety for 100% of flights within their assigned areas of responsibility.

To optimize airspace capacity, increase aircraft handling capacity, reduce the workload for air traffic controllers, and ensure safe, orderly, and efficient flight operations, VATM has adjusted the responsibility boundaries of sectors 3 and 4 and established sector 7 at the Ho Chi Minh ACC.

Last year, VATM completed the official conversion of operations, putting the Dien Bien and Buon Ma Thuot Air Traffic Control Towers into operation. The conversion, which applied air traffic control monitoring methods at the Dien Bien Air Traffic Control Tower, contributed to improving the air traffic control capacity of the entire Hanoi Flight Information Region.

"VATM also completed research, development, and submission to the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam of the Procedure for regulating air traffic flow under adverse weather conditions and the Level 3 multi-node ATFM operating method in Vietnam. As a result, the number of aircraft having to circle in the air traffic control zone at busy airports and in adverse weather conditions has been reduced by half compared to the same period in 2023," Mr. Long informed.

In 2024, VATM's total revenue is estimated at VND 4,237 billion, equivalent to 115.2% compared to the same period last year. Pre-tax profit is estimated at VND 1,431 billion, equivalent to 130.3% compared to the same period in 2023. Tax contributions to the State budget are estimated at VND 2,819 billion.

In 2025, VATM aims for a total flight operation volume of 940,128 flights, an increase of 8.72% compared to the estimated figure for 2024. Total revenue is projected to increase by 5.7%, reaching VND 4,478 billion, and after-tax profit is expected to increase by 1.7%, reaching VND 1,136 billion.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/bo-truong-gtvt-phai-dat-an-toan-hang-khong-len-hang-dau-192250108185835709.htm