On April 9, during a ceremony announcing the certification, Uong Viet Dung, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam under the Ministry of Construction, emphasized the critical role of training in ensuring flight safety.

The recognition was granted to Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company (VAECO), a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines, by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The company has been approved as an aircraft maintenance training organization under the EASA Part 147 standard.

This marks the first time Vietnam has a facility certified to train aviation technicians under European standards, representing a major step forward in developing high-quality human resources for the sector.

A foundation for global-standard workforce

With this certification, VAECO is now authorized to train engineers according to international standards and issue globally recognized qualifications.

Notably, domestic training is expected to reduce costs by up to 90 percent compared to sending trainees abroad, making high-level technical education more accessible while retaining talent within the country.

Speaking at the event, Uong Viet Dung stressed that in any aviation development strategy, the decisive factor is not technology or business models, but people.

“Flight safety is the most critical element of aviation. Its foundation lies in human capability,” he said.

This places unique demands on aviation personnel, who must undergo rigorous, continuous training and operate within a framework of knowledge, discipline and strict compliance - among the most demanding standards across technical fields.

Beyond certification: delivering real value

According to Dung, the certification itself is only the beginning. The real measure lies in effectiveness - how training programs deliver value, reduce costs and attract clients.

In an increasingly competitive global labor market, the risk of brain drain is real, as Vietnamese aviation engineers become attractive to international employers. He therefore called on VAECO to shift from an internal support role to proactively supplying high-quality human resources to the broader market, aligning training with real-world demand.

He also highlighted that training extends beyond technical knowledge to include discipline and professional conduct - essential elements in ensuring flight safety.

The ultimate goal, he noted, is absolute safety, alongside building a modern, self-reliant and sustainable aviation industry in Vietnam.

Vu Diep