HCMC – The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has proposed a 60-minute clearance rule and additional monitoring measures to address unauthorized drone activity.
Under the proposal, flight operations can resume if no additional information is received and no unidentified objects are detected within 60 minutes after the final incident report.
At a meeting reviewing drone operations at airports and coordination procedures for handling incidents affecting flight safety on March 17, the CAAV assigned relevant units to finalize coordinated response regulations and recommended adding surveillance and drone detection equipment. It also plans communication campaigns to address violations.
The move follows repeated reports from the Airports Corporation of Vietnam and Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation of unauthorized drone activity in restricted airspace at airports, including Danang International Airport and Cat Bi International Airport.
Earlier, the Ministry of Construction urged the ministries of National Defense and Public Security, along with local authorities, to strengthen measures against drone threats to aviation safety.
Airports have increased coordination with local governments to raise awareness and handle violations. At Noi Bai International Airport, operators worked with nearby communities to share information on regulations through posters and local online channels.
Unauthorized drone activity has disrupted operations. Vietnam Airlines estimated losses of about VND5.6 billion and disruptions affecting around 9,200 passengers between February 17 and 24.
On March 15, a suspected drone incident at Cat Bi airport disrupted operations for about four hours. Four flights were diverted to Noi Bai, while five others could not depart as scheduled.
Authorities deployed forces to identify the source but detected no abnormal flying objects. One individual was recorded flying a kite near the area late that evening.
Flight operations at Cat Bi resumed after the area was deemed safe.
