Bien Hoa airport will be put into dual-use operation

Bien Hoa Airport and Thanh Son Airport (Ninh Thuan Province) are two military airports planned for dual-use exploitation (serving both civil and military purposes) according to the proposal to approve the master plan for the development of the national airport and seaport system for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, recently submitted by the Ministry of Transport to the Prime Minister.

Bien Hoa Airport was included in the dual-use exploitation planning for the 2021-2030 period by the Ministry of Transport. Photo: P.Tung

Bien Hoa airport's dual-use exploitation will have a great impact on the economic and social development of Dong Nai in general and the localities surrounding this airport in particular.

* Proposal for dual-use exploitation before 2030

Recently, the Ministry of Transport has submitted to the Prime Minister a proposal for approval of the master plan for the development of the national airport system for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. Accordingly, in the 2021-2030 period, 30 airports will be formed nationwide. Notably, by 2030, a number of new airports will be formed, including Bien Hoa airport. This is one of two military airports planned for dual-use exploitation.

Bien Hoa Airport was built in 1955, about 30km from Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, Bien Hoa Airport is managed and used by Air Force Regiment 935, Division 370 (Ministry of National Defense).

In April 2022, the Prime Minister decided to establish a Working Group to deploy Thanh Son and Bien Hoa airports to have a basis to consider converting these military airports into dual-use airports. By February 2023, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam had sent a report to the Ministry of Transport on the results of reviewing and completing the master plan for the development of the national airport and seaport system for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

In particular, with the proposal to convert the two military airports Bien Hoa and Thanh Son into dual-use airports according to the airport model, based on the results of additional research by the consultant, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam proposed to add the planning of the two domestic airports Bien Hoa and Thanh Son to the airport system planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam also proposed that the condition for converting the two airports above is to attract investors to implement with socialized capital.

According to experts, Bien Hoa airport is located in a prime location, has good visibility, is at the northeastern gateway of Ho Chi Minh City, has a take-off and landing direction nearly parallel and in the same direction as Tan Son Nhat airport, and has runways not far apart, so it is convenient for both airports to operate.

Currently, Bien Hoa airport already has 2 runways 3.6km long with a system of taxiways, parking lots, warehouses, flight control tower systems... To exploit dual use, this airport only needs to build a domestic airport terminal to serve passengers and cargo as well as renew the parking area for aircraft, renew the lighting system, runway signal lights, navigation support systems... to create the ability to serve large commercial aircraft takeoffs and landings.

* Plan early to maximize advantages

Bien Hoa airport being included in the planning for dual-use exploitation will have a huge impact on the economic and social development of the areas surrounding this airport.

At the working session to listen to reports on difficulties and obstacles in the process of planning Dong Nai province for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 at the end of April, Chairman of Vinh Cuu District People's Committee Nguyen Quang Phuong also requested that the consortium of consulting units for planning the province should study and assess the impact of Bien Hoa airport when it is exploited for dual use on surrounding localities, including Vinh Cuu District.

Similarly, Director of the Department of Planning and Investment Nguyen Huu Nguyen also said that with Bien Hoa airport being researched for dual-use planning, research and impact assessment should be carried out immediately.

One of the “hot” issues when Bien Hoa airport is exploited for dual use is the connecting traffic system. Because in reality, the current traffic infrastructure system of Bien Hoa city is in a state of overload. Therefore, having another airport for civil use will increase the pressure on traffic overload for Bien Hoa city.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Cao Tien Dung said that the current infrastructure system, especially the traffic infrastructure of Bien Hoa City, is not enough to "welcome" another dual-use airport. "The traffic infrastructure of Bien Hoa City is currently not enough to "bear" the city's needs, so when there is another dual-use airport, it is necessary to study the planning thoroughly to meet the needs" - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Cao Tien Dung emphasized.

Therefore, Dong Nai also requested the consulting unit to study and plan traffic routes to meet transportation needs when Bien Hoa airport is exploited for dual use. At the same time, it is necessary to fully assess the impacts of Bien Hoa airport when exploited for dual use in order to make the best use of development opportunities.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has proposed that Bien Hoa Airport be planned with a capacity of 5 million passengers/year in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to increase the capacity to 10 million passengers/year by 2050.

Pham Tung

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