The Vietnam Aviation Administration (VAA), in a recent report to the Ministry of Construction, announced its collaboration with the Vietnam Aviation Academy to develop a plan for acquiring and utilizing a Boeing 727-200 aircraft currently abandoned at Noi Bai airport.
The proposal suggests that the Vietnam Aviation Academy will receive the aircraft and hire specialists to oversee its disassembly, transportation, and reassembly at the academy's third campus in Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa). Importing a new training aircraft from overseas would cost approximately 500 billion VND, while transporting and reassembling the existing aircraft is estimated at 8.7-9.6 billion VND.
Although no longer airworthy, the aircraft retains many of its original components, including the fuselage, passenger seats, cockpit, instrument panels, landing gear, and even the engines. These parts are valuable for training in aircraft maintenance, operation, and aviation security.
 |
The abandoned Boeing 727-200 aircraft at Noi Bai Airport. Photo: Anh Duy |
The abandoned Boeing 727-200 aircraft at Noi Bai Airport. Photo: Anh Duy
Using the decommissioned aircraft will provide practical training for various disciplines, including aviation engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, aviation security, flight attendants, air traffic control, and ground operations. The Vietnam Aviation Academy affirms its financial capacity to receive, transport, repair, and maintain the aircraft using tuition fees and sponsorships, without relying on the state budget.
The VAA considers this a practical and modern educational approach, aligned with current regulations on civil aviation. The academy will fulfill all obligations regarding the management, use, and registration of public assets.
The Boeing B727-200, belonging to Royal Khmer Airlines (Cambodia), has been parked at Noi Bai International Airport since 1/5/2007. In 2014, the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia confirmed the revocation of Royal Khmer Airlines' operating license and authorized Vietnam to handle the aircraft according to its laws.
Subsequently, the VAA classified the aircraft as abandoned, to be handled under Vietnamese law. The Ministry of Finance then issued a decision establishing state ownership of the aircraft. To resolve the ongoing issue of the abandoned plane, the VAA previously proposed auctioning it as surplus property.
However, due to the aircraft's deteriorated condition, establishing a starting price for the auction proved challenging. Therefore, the VAA recommended transferring the aircraft as a public asset instead.
Anh Duy
