Clip inside the cockpit of a calibration flight at Long Thanh airport

On October 26, the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) conducted the second phase of technical calibration flights for aviation surveillance systems at Long Thanh International Airport, including primary/secondary radars and the automatic dependent surveillance system-broadcast (ADS-B).

Aircraft calibration in Long Thanh airport airspace. Photo: Hoang Anh

The flight started at 4:20 am, ensuring absolute safety and meeting all technical requirements. This is a calibration phase following phase 1, marking an important step in the process of completing and synchronously evaluating the capacity of the monitoring systems serving flight operations at the Long Thanh airport project.

This flight used a Beechcraft B300 aircraft to perform 30 test flights, including 3 tests of horizontal radar coverage at altitudes of 5,000 - 10,000ft, 4 tests of arrival and approach procedures at both ends of runway 05R/23L to evaluate ADS-B system surveillance, and 23 tests of vertical coverage on a 228° radial direction from altitudes of 1,000ft to flight level FL300.

Experts and technical team, flight controllers calibrate. Photo: AX

The calibration flight was carried out by Air Traffic Management Engineering Company Limited (ATTECH) in coordination with the Southern Air Traffic Management Company, Long Thanh Project Management Board and related units. This flight also had the participation of experts from the Czech Republic Air Navigation Academy and a team of experienced Vietnamese technicians and controllers.

Throughout the process, air traffic controllers closely coordinated, maintained safe separation and continuous operations. Aviation meteorologists at Tan Son Nhat also regularly updated weather conditions, providing optimal support to the flight crew and radar station.

Pilots check calibration flights at Long Thanh airport. Photo: AX

Initial assessment results show that Long Thanh airport's radar and ADS-B systems operate stably, with signals meeting the technical standards of ICAO and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam. The collected data will be processed, evaluated and handed over by ATTECH to Long Thanh air traffic control tower to serve radar display calibration and integration into the national monitoring network.

VATM representative said this calibration is an important technical milestone, contributing to speeding up the progress of completing technical infrastructure, ready for the overall acceptance phase and putting Long Thanh airport into operation in 2026.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/clip-ben-trong-buong-lai-chuyen-bay-hieu-chuan-tai-san-bay-long-thanh-2456473.html