HCMC – The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) will start calibration flights at Long Thanh International Airport to test navigation and landing systems in preparation for the airport’s year-end completion date.
CAAV director Uong Viet Dung told the Vietnam News Agency on September 12 that the authority, in coordination with relevant units, would launch the calibration program as planned.
The campaign will last more than 10 days, using a Beechcraft B300 aircraft. Flights will be operated at night or early in the morning to avoid affecting commercial operations at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. In some cases, crews may have to conduct flights at midnight to ensure safety and accuracy.
During the program, pilots will perform complex maneuvers to verify and fine-tune systems such as ILS/DME, PAPI, and ALS, while also calibrating radar systems including PSR, SSR, and ADS-B.
Most flights will depart from Tan Son Nhat and, depending on weather conditions, carry out specific tests in Long Thanh’s airspace.
Between July 31 and August 2, 2025, relevant units had already conducted test flights at Long Thanh to assess Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) procedures.
According to Airports Corporation of Vietnam, Runway No. 1 has been substantially completed, navigation equipment has been installed, and the air traffic control tower is being equipped to meet calibration requirements.
Long Thanh airport is carrying out multiple major construction packages with around 17,000 workers and machinery mobilized around the clock. The project is slated for substantial completion on December 19, 2025.
