How to handle the 'abandoned' Boeing 727 aircraft at Noi Bai airport?

(Chinhphu.vn) - Although no longer able to fly, the "abandoned" Boeing 727-200 still retains many structural parts such as the frame, passenger seats, cockpit, display clocks, landing gear system and engine - important components serving technical training for maintenance, operation and aviation security.

The Boeing B727-220 aircraft, originally belonging to Royal Khmer Airlines (RKA), with Cambodian nationality, has been abandoned at Noi Bai International Airport since 2007 - Photo: Ngoc Tan

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam ( Ministry of Construction ) has just sent a report to the Ministry of Construction on a plan to handle the abandoned B727-200 aircraft at Noi Bai International Airport from 2007 to present.

The plane was "abandoned" since 2007.

According to this agency's report, the Boeing B727-200 aircraft, registration number XU-RKJ, owned by Royal Khmer Airlines (Cambodian nationality), has been parked at Noi Bai International Airport since May 1, 2007.

On October 13, 2008, the aircraft was deregistered as Cambodian. Then, on November 11, 2014, the State Committee for Civil Aviation of Cambodia issued a document confirming that the Air Operator License (AOC) of Royal Khmer Airlines had been revoked and agreed to let Vietnam handle the aircraft in accordance with current laws.

On that basis, on December 15, 2014, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam issued a notice identifying this as an abandoned aircraft and will be handled according to Vietnamese law. The Ministry of Finance then also issued a decision establishing State ownership of this aircraft. However, the decision has not clearly identified the unit assigned to manage and use the asset.

In order to remove difficulties in the operation of Noi Bai International Airport and avoid prolonged vacancy, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has proposed the plan to auction this aircraft as liquidated assets (scrap iron).

However, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, this agency does not have the function and conditions to conduct asset valuation, so the auction must be based on the valuation results performed by a competent unit.

In case the asset is an aircraft that is still capable of being exploited, the Department can consult domestic airlines, international experience and similar cases around the world to build a basis for determining the starting price.

However, with the aircraft having seriously degraded and unable to be restored, and there being no precedent in Vietnam and no similar case in the world, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam believes that it is very difficult to have enough basis and persuasiveness to approve the starting price proposed by the valuation unit.

Use as training tools

In order to resolve the problem related to handling the Boeing 727-200 aircraft abandoned at Noi Bai airport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said it has coordinated with the Vietnam Aviation Academy to develop a plan to receive and effectively use this asset.

According to the proposed plan, the Vietnam Aviation Academy will coordinate with the asset management agency to receive the aircraft, and at the same time hire a specialized unit to survey and develop a feasible plan for dismantling, transporting and installing it at the Academy's Facility 3 in Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa).

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said that while the cost of importing a qualified aircraft model for training from abroad can be up to about 500 billion VND, the plan to dismantle, transport and install this Boeing 727-200 is only estimated at about 8.7 - 9.6 billion VND.

Although no longer able to fly, the Boeing 727-200 still retains many structural components such as the frame, passenger seats, cockpit, display clocks, landing gear system and even the engine - important components for training in maintenance, operation and aviation security techniques. Using this model will effectively support visual training for many training fields such as: Aviation Engineering, Electricity - Electronics, Aviation Security, Flight Attendants, Air Traffic Control, Ground Trade...

Vietnam Aviation Academy affirms that it has sufficient financial capacity to receive, transport, repair and maintain aircraft from tuition and sponsorship sources - completely without using the State budget.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam emphasized that using this aircraft as a teaching aid is a practical training solution, in line with modern educational trends and civil aviation regulations. Without such visual aids, teaching would become theoretical and far from reality.

Regarding the management plan, the Aviation Academy will fully perform its obligations under the law related to the management, use and registration of ownership of public assets, and commit to fully reporting and declaring any changes in assets during use.

Phan Trang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/xu-ly-tau-bay-boeing-727-bi-bo-roi-o-san-bay-noi-bai-nhu-the-nao-102250710144942956.htm