No disciplinary measures taken after civil aviation authority finds national carrier breached its own procedures and regulations National carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) has been breaking its own procedures and regulations in recruiting pilots, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has found. The "shortcomings" in contracting pilots were announced by the aviation authority after it completed an inspection of VNA from November 10 to December 1. The inspection of the carrier's recruitment methods had been launched after controversy erupted over its hiring of a South Korean pilot who had apparently forged documents about his experience in flying Airbus 320 aircraft. South Korean co-pilot Kim Tae Hun, 36, suspected of using bogus flight records, left the country in August and has not returned since. Speculation over Hun using fake documentation had arisen several months ago following his incompetent piloting of a VNA Airbus 320 aircraft while landing at the Gimhae International … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines violating rules on hiring pilots
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Gov’t inspections find sketchy Vietnam airlines hangar project
Ongoing government inspections on Vietnam's national flag carrier found a project that came in way over budget when it was completed ten years ago but was without corresponding invoicing. The A76 hangar was finished in 1997, but it came in way over budget, some five times its original target. Costs to complete it were originally set at VND20 billion in 1993, but four years later the total bill rang up at VND109.3 billion (at that time $1 US was less than VND 10,000). Within the project, some VND10 billion disbursed did not have sufficient invoicing to verify contractor payouts. The uncertified procurement included the building foundation, electric transformers, and a metal tanker. After the scandal came to light in 1998, former Deputy Prime Minister Ngo Xuan Loc ordered General Directors of national Civil Aviation Authority and VNA to review responsibilities of project manager and other key officials. The government is currently conducting overall inspections on … [Read more...] about Gov’t inspections find sketchy Vietnam airlines hangar project
Vietnam Airlines pilot suspected of using fake license
South Korean aviation authorities have asked Vietnam national carrier Vietnam Airlines to review its training process after a pilot failed to make a smooth landing in Korea and was suspected of be unqualified. The request was made after many Korean headlines in October reported a Vietnam Airlines flight from Ho Chi Minh City in April failed to make a smooth landing on a Busan runway. Kim Tae Hun, a South Korean co-pilot of the 160-passenger flight, is suspected of using an unqualified license and of having lied about his flying hours from one to 680, news web site VnExpress reported on November 3. Vietnam Airlines sent a statement to the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority and the South Korean counterpart saying that it ended the contract with the pilot in August. A source from a Vietnam aviation authority told VnEpxress the unit is receiving more reports from Vietnam Airlines, who is contacting the pilot license provider, Indonesian aviavtion authorities. He said further … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines pilot suspected of using fake license
Vietnam Airlines transports more than 1 million passengers during Tet holiday
The national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, announced on February 7 that it had transported safely over one million passengers during the Lunar New Year festival (Tet) from January 7-30. This figure represented a seven percent increase over the same period last year, despite adverse weather conditions, especially at Cat Bi, Dong Hoi, Vinh and Hue airports. Vietnam Airlines handled more than 11,200 tonnes of cargo and parcels during the reviewed period. Its on-time flight rate reached approximately 89.6 percent, as high as last year, and it ensured aviation safety and security before, during and after Tet. The carrier has introduced a series of innovations to improve its efficiency and safety. … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines transports more than 1 million passengers during Tet holiday
Vietnam Airlines’ former pilot uses fake papers
The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has concluded that gaps in pilot recruitment procedures of Vietnam Airlines enabled Korean pilot Kim Tae Hun to falsify his flight hours. The Korean pilot failed to make a smooth landing when he was the co-pilot for a Vietnam Airlines flight in Busan, South Korea, in April. The Vietnamese chief pilot then had to take over the plane and landed safely CAAV’s inspectors said that pilot Kim Tae Hun was recruited by 919 Flight Crew through the Direct Personnel International (DPI). According to CAAV’s regulations, Vietnam Airlines must recruit pilots through at least five agents but since it urgently needed pilots, the airway contacted with only one agent – DPI – which had an employment contract already. CAAV said that Vietnam Airlines was partly responsible when it didn’t inspect the documents submitted by pilot Kim Tae Hun, which are confirmed to be bogus by Indonesia’s Batavia Airlines. Elly … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines’ former pilot uses fake papers