The Ministry of Construction has proposed using the abandoned Boeing aircraft at Noi Bai Airport as a teaching aid.

The Ministry of Construction has requested Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to approve the transfer of the abandoned Boeing aircraft at Noi Bai Airport to the Vietnam Aviation Academy for use as teaching equipment instead of auctioning it off.

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

This is the content of a letter from the Ministry of Construction to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requesting a change in the plan for handling the Boeing aircraft 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, a Cambodian airline.

By June 2015, the technical condition assessment team of the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority had determined that this aircraft, manufactured in 1975, was in severely deteriorated condition, beyond repair, and did not meet the airworthiness standards stipulated by Vietnam and internationally.

To date, various agencies and units have had to allocate a parking space within the airport to guard and maintain this aircraft, causing difficulties and hindering the operation of other aircraft at Noi Bai Airport.

Following directives from the Government leadership, in January 2017, the Ministry of Finance issued a decision establishing state ownership of the abandoned aircraft. The Ministry of Transport took the lead in directing the Civil Aviation Authority and relevant agencies to conduct an auction of the asset in accordance with the law.

However, the auction of this aircraft faced many difficulties and obstacles as it is a unique asset with no precedent for transactions in Vietnam or worldwide ; the valuation was determined to be too low, insufficient to cover auction costs and other related expenses.

Since then, the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority has continued to research and implement various measures to find solutions for the abandoned Boeing aircraft, such as: transferring it to security and defense units; transferring it to the Vietnam Airports Corporation; and handing it over to the Vietnam Aviation Academy for use as a model and teaching aid for practical training in aviation-related training facilities.

After a comprehensive review and assessment, the Civil Aviation Authority determined that the option of handing over the aircraft to the Vietnam Aviation Academy for use as teaching aids was highly feasible.

Because this option complies with the regulations of the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets regarding the form of handling assets established as state-owned; and is consistent with the practical functions, tasks, and management and usage requirements of the Vietnam Aviation Academy in serving the training of aviation engineering disciplines.

At the same time, the Vietnam Aviation Academy has also submitted an application and a plan for receiving, managing, and using the abandoned aircraft, with guaranteed financial resources and a commitment to receiving, managing, and using it (without using state budget funds).

In terms of economic efficiency, if the Vietnam Aviation Academy had to purchase aircraft from abroad to use as teaching models that meet international training standards, the estimated cost would be around 500 billion VND. Meanwhile, the projected cost for dismantling, transporting, assembling, and refurbishing the abandoned Boeing aircraft at the training facility is only between 8.7 and 9.7 billion VND.

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

The plan for handling the abandoned Boeing B727-200 aircraft at Noi Bai Airport has been changed from "auctioning the asset" to "transferring it to the Vietnam Aviation Academy for use as a model, teaching aid, and training tool in aviation training facilities."

The Minister of Finance shall make the decision and the Ministry of Construction shall organize the implementation in accordance with regulations.

TUAN PHUNG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bo-xay-dung-de-xuat-giao-may-bay-boeing-bi-bo-roi-tai-san-bay-noi-bai-lam-giao-cu-20250807105315506.htm