On 26 September, a Beechcraft King Air 300 series aircraft carried out its first test and calibration flight for Long Thanh International Airport, which is expected to open in late 2026.
The aircraft took off from Tan Son Nhat International Airport before operating flights at Long Thanh, including runway approaches on Runway 1.
The flight marked a technical step in preparing the airport for operations scheduled to begin in December 2026. The calibration activities were conducted with coordination between the flight crew and ground technical teams. The objective was to evaluate systems and equipment supporting flight operations, and to verify that performance parameters are consistent with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
On 24 September 2024, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), together with the Long Thanh Project Management Board – Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), Air Traffic Management Engineering Company Limited and technical specialists, inspected the airport’s runway, taxiways, navigation and monitoring equipment. Following the inspection, CAAV confirmed that the airport conditions were suitable for calibration flights to begin.
Prior to this flight, the Technical Calibration Flight Centre worked with the flight crew to finalise flight procedures in coordination with Tan Son Nhat Approach Control Centre and Long Thanh Air Traffic Control Station of the Southern Air Traffic Management Company. Agreements were reached on the scope of the test flights, communication protocols between pilots and air traffic controllers, and measures to manage scheduled flights at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The timing of calibration flights was selected to ensure safety and minimise disruption to other air traffic.
According to the plan, calibration flights at Long Thanh will continue until 24 October 2025. The programme is being carried out by Air Traffic Management Technical Company Limited, part of the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation, with the involvement of domestic and international specialists.
Flights will be undertaken both during the day and at night, under varying conditions, to assess the accuracy and stability of aviation equipment.
