Civil Aviation Authority issues new directive on aircraft usage during shortage

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has just issued a directive on strengthening measures to ensure aviation safety in the current situation of aircraft shortage.

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Airplanes of airlines at Noi Bai airport. Photo: Huy Hung/VNA

Accordingly, to ensure the effective and safe use of aircraft, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam requires aircraft operators and aircraft maintenance organizations to proactively review the overall maintenance process, optimize maintenance plans, arrange sufficient time for aircraft maintenance and prepare adequate materials, spare parts, equipment and tools for aircraft maintenance. This is to promptly detect and thoroughly fix failures, ensuring that aircraft are put into operation in the best condition. Aircraft operators and aircraft maintenance organizations organize and maintain maintenance supervision activities to ensure that maintenance activities are fully performed, in accordance with maintenance procedures and manuals, and safety regulations in maintenance activities.

The directive was issued in the context of the impact of the PW1100 engine recall, which caused a large number of A321NEO aircraft fleets of Vietnamese airlines to temporarily stop operating, causing a shortage of aircraft. Airlines have optimized to increase the time of using aircraft to maintain operations and meet the transportation needs of the Vietnamese aviation industry.

The Directive also states that aircraft operators and aircraft maintenance organizations must ensure that periodic training for aviation personnel is fully implemented, and that the contents identified through the safety investigation system are added to the training content. At the same time, the team of pilots must thoroughly comply with the prescribed policies and procedures, especially standard operating procedures in adverse weather conditions, and strictly comply with the regulations in the safety directives of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

Aircraft operators and aircraft maintenance organizations need to review and evaluate the concession granting process authorized by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam to ensure it is strict and in accordance with regulations; require aircraft operators to absolutely not abuse concessions as a way to prolong the time to fix damage; fully implement the requirements in the Safety Management Program, focus on mandatory reporting, voluntary reporting, improve safety culture, ensure incidents are investigated, causes are analyzed and effective preventive solutions are available.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam also requested airport authorities to strengthen inspection and supervision at aircraft parking lots, ensuring that aircraft maintenance is performed by technicians with appropriate licenses and certificates; promptly detect and handle violations in aircraft operation and maintenance.

(According to VNA)

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