Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam prepare for aviation upgrade
Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam prepare for aviation upgrade
Civil aviation officials from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam gathered in Vientiane for the second meeting of the Regional Joint Coordinating Committee as part of preparations for the anticipated surge in airline traffic entering and leaving the three countries.
The committee is primarily overseeing capacity development in readiness for the switch to the new Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS)/Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems.
Minister for Public Works and Transport, Mr Sommad Pholsena, Civil Aviation Department Director General, Mr Yakua Lopangkao, Under Secretary of State for Cambodia State Secretariat Civil Aviation, Mr Chea Aun, Deputy Director General of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, Mr Dinh Viet Thang, and Japanese Embassy to Laos Counselor Mr Hideyuki Onishi jointly presided over the two-day meeting from May 16-17.
The meeting was also attended by representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japanese transport sector.
This second committee meeting is one of a number that are planned to ensure a smooth transition to the new CNS/ATM systems in the three countries.
“The committee has already carried out evaluations of a number of programmes identified as being part of the overall preparations, such as Flight Procedure Design which is used to support the implementation of Performance Based Navigation, a training system for CNS/ATM, an instructors training and safety management system and a review of the progress and achievements to reach the common goal of a ‘seamless sky' in our region,” Mr Yakua told the meeting.
The department recognised that the valuable experience of the JICA experts had been transferred to their Lao counterparts.
“I do hope that as a result of this meeting, those charged with this responsibility will expend their energy on developing good practices to enhance aviation safety and offer reasonable and fruitful suggestions for the further embellishment of the upcoming action plan. The results will be presented by the independent joint evaluators, including making recommendations,” he said.
Mr Sommath said that while Laos is a land-locked country, under the government's socio-economic development plans, the country will be transformed into a land link through the development of the transport network.
Over the past decade Laos has received grant aid from the Japanese government for the development of its civil aviation infrastructure, such as a new air traffic control tower, fire fighting station and equipment, power house, passenger terminal building and related facilities.
“These premises and facilities are still being effectively operated, providing an air traffic control service and an airport service as well,” Mr Sommath noted.
In addition, the Civil Aviation Training Centre has been upgraded.
At the request of the government, the master plan to develop the new CNS/ATM system was formulated.
This master plan was approved on September 2012 to support the smooth introduction of the new CNS/ATM systems.
“This project remains highly effective and integral to the government's policy in terms of modernisation, integrity, connectivity and safety to cope with the growing air traffic occupying Lao airspace, and the take-offs and landings at international airports in Laos,” Mr Sommath said.
vientiane times
