How will dust be controlled during the first technical flight to Long Thanh while the airport is still under construction?

Water sprayers on runway 1 at Long Thanh International Airport - Photo: VAN TRUNG

Construction work, watering, and continuous vacuuming are carried out on the runway.

At 3:30 PM on December 15th, the "mega airport" Long Thanh will welcome its first technical flight to test and evaluate the overall operational system, marking an important step before the airport begins operation.

This flight is operated by Vietnam Airlines .

The aircraft used was a Boeing 787, the largest wide-body aircraft with a maximum capacity of approximately 340 passengers. Because it was a technical flight, the plane only carried the flight crew and technical staff.

The flight took off from Tan Son Nhat airport, landed at Long Thanh airport, and then returned.

During the load testing, the aircraft will perform all takeoff, approach, and landing procedures according to operating standards, in order to assess the ability to coordinate simultaneously between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh airports.

Subsequently, on December 19th, three more technical flights from Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet , and Bamboo Airways will take off and land on runway number 1, with approximately 5 minutes between each flight.

The technical flight was conducted by Vietnam Airlines using a Boeing 787 aircraft - Photo: VNA

With the airport still under construction, the biggest concern is the risk of dust, sand, and foreign matter (FOD) affecting flight safety, especially the possibility of being sucked into the engines of wide-body aircraft.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , a technical leader of an airline said that on December 14th, they directly surveyed Long Thanh airport and assessed that the current runway fully meets the requirements for technical flights, with only concerns about dust in the surrounding area.

In response to these concerns, speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Le Van Tien - from the Aviation Construction Corporation (ACC), the commander of the consortium of contractors for package 4.6, which involves the construction of the runway, taxiway, and aircraft parking apron - affirmed that strict control measures have been implemented.

Accordingly, construction areas on both sides of the runway will temporarily cease operations or be watered remotely to reduce dust. Runway No. 1, which is 4km long, has been continuously watered and vacuumed for the past month, with specialized vehicles conducting multiple inspection and cleaning cycles to completely remove foreign objects such as gravel, concrete fragments, metal, and waste.

According to our observations, the dust removal and watering work to minimize dust on the runway is being carried out urgently and continuously. Water trucks have been mobilized from Tan Son Nhat, Cam Ranh, and Can Tho airports to maintain regular operation. Each truck carries 10 cubic meters of water and operates in shifts continuously.

According to ACC leaders, controlling FOD (Forest Odor) is given special importance because it is a serious hazard that can damage tires and engines, leading to flight safety incidents and significant losses.

On the investor's side, Mr. Nguyen Tien Viet, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV), said that coordination to ensure safety for technical flights has been meticulously prepared, and key items such as runways, aprons, air traffic control stations, and technical systems have been basically completed.

Previously, the runway lighting system, using 100% imported LED technology from Europe, had been successfully tested and fully met the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Along with the ILS/DME precision landing guidance system, it helps aircraft approach safely even in adverse weather conditions.

To meet the deadline for the first flight, ACV has also mobilized an additional 1,000 engineers and workers, bringing the total workforce at Long Thanh Airport to over 15,000 people. They are focusing on completing the final items such as surface drainage channels, anti-slip coatings, expansion joint sealing, line painting, general cleaning, and the synchronized operation of the aviation lighting and signage system.

Phase one of Long Thanh Airport covers an area of 1,810 hectares, construction began in January 2021, and it is designed to handle 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year.

The project is expected to begin commercial operation in mid-2026.

Long Thanh airport terminal is nearing completion - Photo: VAN TRUNG

The construction site is bustling with activity - Photo: VAN TRUNG

Workers are busy completing various sections of the station, jet bridges, and access bridges - Photo: VAN TRUNG

Phase one of Long Thanh Airport covers an area of 1,810 hectares, construction began in January 2021, with a designed capacity of 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year - Photo: VAN TRUNG

Construction work, watering, and continuous vacuuming are carried out on the runway.

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