On 7/10, Long Thanh International Airport (LTIA) in Dong Nai announced it recently organized a simulated drill for aircraft carrying passengers from an area with an infectious disease.
In the morning, participating units simulated the handling process, followed by a field exercise at the airport that afternoon. Simulated passengers underwent health screening, were routed, and received support according to scenarios designed for detecting infectious disease factors.
According to a Long Thanh International Airport leader, the drill aimed to test coordination, handling, and passenger service capabilities in the event of an epidemic risk at the airport.
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Testing the reception of flights returning from an epidemic zone. Photo: Tran Vu. |
Participants included airport staff, IAC consulting unit, air traffic control, medical quarantine, border police, customs, ground handling units, and airlines.
This activity is part of the Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) program, designed to verify systems, procedures, and inter-unit coordination before the airport handles actual passengers.
According to Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the organization, alongside Incheon Airport consultants, developed 55 operational scenarios for Long Thanh's trial runs. In September, two scenarios were tested with external units participating.
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Inside the Long Thanh Airport terminal, the final stages are being completed. Photo: Phuoc Tuan. |
The ORAT program is structured into three phases, drawing on international experience and recommendations from IATA and ICAO. Phase one occurred in September-October, phase two is scheduled for November, and the final phase for December. All passenger service systems must undergo safety, quality, and operational capability checks before the airport's partial operation by year-end.
Long Thanh Airport spans approximately 5,000 hectares, with a total investment nearing 16 billion USD. Phase one includes one runway and one passenger terminal, designed to handle 25 million passengers and 1,2 million tons of cargo annually. Partial operation is anticipated by late 2026.
Phuoc Tuan
