Ministry of Construction proposes to use abandoned Boeing aircraft at Noi Bai airport as teaching aids

The Ministry of Construction has proposed that Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha approve the transfer of an abandoned Boeing aircraft at Noi Bai Airport to the Vietnam Aviation Academy as a teaching aid instead of auctioning it.

The Boeing plane abandoned at Noi Bai airport is 50 years old and cannot be restored for operation - Photo: NIA

That is the content of the official dispatch of the Ministry of Construction sent to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requesting to change the plan to handle the Boeing plane abandoned at Noi Bai airport for 18 years.

According to the Ministry of Construction, the Boeing B727-200 aircraft abandoned at Noi Bai airport since May 1, 2007, belonged to Royal Khmer Airlines, with Cambodian nationality.

By June 2015, the technical condition assessment team of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam determined that the aircraft, manufactured in 1975, was in serious technical deterioration, could not be restored, and did not meet the airworthiness standards according to Vietnamese and international regulations.

Up to now, agencies and units have had to arrange a parking space in the airport to look after and preserve this plane, causing difficulties and hindering other planes during the operation of Noi Bai airport.

Under the direction of the Government, in January 2017, the Ministry of Finance decided to establish state ownership of the abandoned aircraft. The Ministry of Transport presided over and directed the Civil Aviation Authority and relevant agencies to conduct the auction of the asset in accordance with the law.

However, the auction of this aircraft encountered many difficulties and obstacles because this is a unique asset with no precedent for transactions in Vietnam and the world ; the valuation level was determined to be too low, not enough to pay for the auction costs and other related costs.

Since then, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has continued to research and implement many measures to find solutions to handle abandoned Boeing aircraft such as: transferring them to security and defense units; transferring them to the Vietnam Airports Corporation; and transferring them to the Vietnam Aviation Academy for use as models and practice tools in aviation training facilities.

After a comprehensive review and assessment, the Civil Aviation Authority decided to choose the option of handing over the aircraft to the Vietnam Aviation Academy as a teaching aid because it is highly feasible.

Because this plan is in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets on the form of handling assets with established public ownership; in accordance with the practical functions, tasks and management and use requirements of the Vietnam Aviation Academy in serving the training of aviation engineering majors.

At the same time, Vietnam Aviation Academy also has an application and plan to receive, manage and use abandoned aircraft and has guaranteed financial resources and a commitment to receive, manage and use (not using state budget).

In terms of economic efficiency, if the Vietnam Aviation Academy had to buy aircraft from abroad to serve as a teaching model to ensure international training standards, the estimated cost would be around VND500 billion. Meanwhile, the estimated cost of dismantling, transporting, installing, and completing the abandoned Boeing aircraft to the training facility would be only VND8.7 - 9.7 billion.

Based on the above report, the Ministry of Construction requests Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to consider and approve:

Change the plan to handle the abandoned Boeing B727-200 aircraft at Noi Bai airport to be more effective and suitable to the characteristics of the asset from "auctioning the asset" to "handing over the aircraft to the Vietnam Aviation Academy to use as a model, teaching aid for practice and internship in aviation training facilities".

The Minister of Finance shall decide and the Ministry of Construction shall organize implementation according to regulations.

TUAN PHUNG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/boeing-construction-department-was-removed-from-the-airport-noi-bai-lam-giao-cu-20250807105315506.htm