CANSO Asia Pacific Conference 2017: Improving service quality

Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho (third from the left) attended the CANSO Asia Pacific Conference on May 3-5, 2017

Efforts to improve service quality

The demand for air travel is increasing. The pace of development of the civil aviation industry in the world is relatively high with an average growth rate of about 6-7 percent a year. In particular, the Asia Pacific region accounts for more than 30 percent of global air traffic with over a billion passengers traveling by air annually.

Vietnam’s aviation industry has witnessed double-digit growth of 14 percent per annum on average over the past decade. In particular, 2015 and 2016 recorded a high growth of 22 percent and 28.6 percent, respectively. During the 2012-2016 period, the VATM successfully fulfilled its tasks through the effective control of nearly three million flights, including 734,000 flights in 2016.

To reach this impressive figure, the VATM has deployed a series of strategic solutions, including effective organization of the airspace, successful implementation of the Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM), improving the quality of human resources, upgrading technical infrastructure together with increasing efficiency of investment capital, and applying aviation safety as recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In particular, in 2016 the VATM launched two new parallel north-south oriented airways using new ATS procedure called RNAV5; started using a new landing/taking off control procedure called RNAV1/SID/STARs at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in an attempt to reduce flight delays and overload for air traffic controller. In addition, the corporation has actively expanded international cooperation and exchanged experience with other air navigation services providers (ANSP), aviation associations and organizations in the region and the world.

Ensuring flight safety

In addition to the remarkable growth results of the aviation industry, it also poses great pressure for ANSPs to ensure flight safety.

With rapid growth of the aviation industry, it is estimated that by 2024 air traffic will double that of 2016. Although Vietnam has had more than 20 years of experience in ensuring flight safety, the government and the Ministry of Transport have always paid great attention to its work.

Vietnam is also experiencing the challenge of overloading at major airports, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In order to overcome this situation, the authorities and businesses have coordinated to implement many solutions, such as upgrading technical infrastructure, buying aircrafts, investing in modern equipment and developing human resources. In addition, strengthening international cooperation to ensure flight operations is needed.

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines welcomed the 700,000th flight in 2016 operated by the VATM

The CANSO Asia Pacific Conference is an annual event, held alternately among member countries, in order to offer an opportunity to meet partners, exchange experience and share information between ANSPs and equipment manufacturers.
Recognizing the importance of this annual conference, the VATM sent a report to the Ministry of Transport to be allowed to host the event. The corporation has actively coordinated with the CANSO Events to carry out all the work for the conference. This is also an opportunity to introduce to international friends about the country and people of Vietnam. Therefore, the preparation and reception is very thoughtful and respectful.

With the theme “Gearing for Growth in the Asia Pacific - Embracing Change, Building Capabilities”, the conference aims at reflecting the most common challenge that comes from the continuous change and strong growth in air traffic. In response to this challenge, the strategy that every services provider guarantees to operate is to increase the capacity - the core value of each services provider.

The conference is expected to engage 150 participants, including CANSO Asia Pacific member countries, representatives of the ICAO and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). On the sidelines of the conference, there is an exhibition introducing the products and services of companies specializing in air traffic management equipment and services in the world. The hosting of the conference also expresses the determination of the VATM in integration, contributing to enhancing the prestige of the corporation in particular and the Vietnamese aviation industry in general.