Not only do the pilots of the Air Force traverse countless "sky routes" within the country, but they also stand firm in the skies of many nations, nearby in Laos and Cambodia, further afield in India, and even over the white-capped waves of the North Sea...

"Shockwave" is a familiar term to officers and soldiers of the Army: Shockwave in carrying out military and national defense tasks; shockwave in labor and production... Carrying within them that "shockwave gene," and with the nature and specifics of the assigned tasks, the 18th Army Corps has been and is currently spearheading in a special direction - the sky.

1. Nearly four decades of construction, development, and growth have also been the same amount of time that the 18th Air Force has successfully carried out the task of combining national defense with the economy , and the economy with national defense, fulfilling its function as a productive labor force. It is necessary to recall the shock flights serving oil and gas exploration and exploitation, starting with the historic flight to the oil rig using older generation aircraft serving the domestic oil and gas industry, to the flights over the North Sea to fulfill the contract for providing oil and gas flight services with Norway. The Air Force has reached a significant milestone by officially replacing major international airlines to completely dominate the market for helicopters serving oil and gas exploration in Vietnam with an advanced, modern, and synchronized fleet of helicopters.

Helicopters of the 18th Air Force Corps conduct search and rescue training flights. Photo: NAM TRUNG

Over the years, Vietnam Helicopter Corporation (VNH) has served more than 30 major domestic and international oil and gas companies, such as Vietsovpetro, BP, JVPC, CLJOC, Petronas, SK Earthon, PVEP POC, Hoang Long-Hoan Vu JOC, Thang Long JOC, etc. In addition to maintaining strategic contracts with traditional oil and gas clients, VNH has expanded its influence to other helicopter-using sectors. The VNH brand has established a strong presence in Malaysia, India, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and Cambodia through aircraft and personnel leasing contracts. Today, VNH's position and reputation on the global oil and gas aviation service map are highly regarded, making a practical contribution to the country's economic development.

In the engineering field, VNH's Helitechco Joint Stock Company has risen to become a reputable center for overhauling and repairing Mi-system helicopters, attracting international customers from Australia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and other countries. VNH's Training Center, established in 2012, initially for self-training of pilots, basic technical skills, and type conversion, now not only meets domestic training needs but also undertakes commercial training contracts for foreign pilots, such as pilots from Hong Kong (China), Malaysia, Russia, and technical staff from India. Other service flights, such as flights supporting the Missing in Action (MIA) program, medical evacuation flights, and sightseeing flights, have also achieved impressive results. In addition, VNH also performs well in providing logistics services, helicopter equipment and supplies, fuel and warehousing, and efficiently managing its office building for rent.

2. In recent years, extreme and unpredictable weather has been evident and caused damage in many regions of our country. Recognizing that "rescue and relief is a combat mission of the Army in peacetime" and steadfastly adhering to the principle of "placing the lives of the people above all else," many flight crews of the 18th Air Force have excellently completed rescue and relief missions in various regions of the country, including mountainous areas, remote and isolated regions with rugged and complex terrain, and distant islands and seas.

In particular, search and rescue flights over the Truong Sa archipelago (Khanh Hoa province) and the southwestern part of the country have become familiar "air routes" for the 18th Air Force Regiment's aircraft. These flights not only fulfill their missions but also help officers and soldiers strengthen their work in the face of harsh conditions; reassure fishermen to venture out to sea and maintain their livelihoods; affirm the sovereignty of the Fatherland; and serve as "eyes and ears" in the open ocean.

Aircraft of the 18th Air Force Brigade fly to support oil and gas exploration. Photo: NAM TRUNG

Furthermore, over the years, the Air Force has also successfully carried out missions flying special aircraft to serve Party and State leaders, ensuring absolute safety.

To accomplish these tasks, the 18th Corps has continuously educated and trained its officers and personnel to enhance their capabilities; at the same time, it has organized close, flexible command and coordination, and invested in the right direction with the overarching motto: "Compact, strong, capable of completing immediate and long-term tasks, and ready to meet other assigned tasks." The Corps has combined investment in human resources with investment in modern equipment and synchronized infrastructure; building a team of officers and personnel who are not only skilled in technical expertise but also possess good foreign language skills, capable of working independently and effectively in harsh conditions and an international integration environment.

Continuing a journey of nearly four decades filled with pride, each officer and soldier of the 18th Army Corps today continues to strive to uphold and further enhance the traditions of the unit, which was awarded the title of Hero of Labor in the đổi mới (renovation) period; striving to reach new heights and firmly integrating into the new era of national development.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/xung-kich-tren-muon-neo-duong-troi-1041534