The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has asked the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to carry out the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program in Vietnam to make it possible for the SEA nation to launch direct air service to the world’s largest economy next year.

A CAAV representative told local media on July 2 that Vietnam has done what was recommended by the FAA, and the CAAV has put in a written request for the IASA program to be conducted next month.

An IASA assessment is an essential prerequisite for Vietnam to launch a nonstop flight service to the United States.

Under the IASA program, the FAA determines whether another country’s oversight of its air carriers that operate, or seek to operate, in the United States or codeshare with a U.S. air carrier complies with safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

According to prevailing U.S. regulations, if an overseas airline wishes to launch air service to the United States, its national aviation authority should meet the ICAO’s evaluation criteria and the FAA’s safety requirements.

In particular, the CAAV must receive a Category 1 safety oversight rating from the FAA. The rating means the air carriers from the assessed state may initiate or continue service to the United States in a normal manner and take part in reciprocal code-share arrangements with U.S. carriers.

Currently, the CAAV remains a Category 2 rating under the ICAO, which means carriers from the assessed state cannot initiate new services and are restricted to current levels of any existing service to the United States while corrective actions are underway.

If the CAAV achieves Category 1 safety approval, it will be given the green light to inspect Vietnam-based airlines. The move is intended to ensure compliance with prevailing regulations and to meet international standards so that such airlines are able to operate in America.

Earlier, the CAAV suggested the Ministry of Transport issue a circular amending regulations on civil aviation safety and aircraft operation.

Besides this, the Vietnamese civil aviation watchdog is also carrying out a plan to inspect aircraft operators annually, which includes foreign airlines operating to or from Vietnam, maintenance and training organizations and other aviation service providers.

A representative of Vietnam Airlines said the national flag carrier stands ready to meet requirements for airplanes and pilots so that it can operate direct flights to the U.S. If the U.S. agency completes the IASA program later this year, Vietnam Airlines will be able to launch direct flights next year.

The airline’s plan for launching services between Vietnam and America in July 2008 was postponed due to insufficient preparation.

In late 2012, the two nations signed an agreement on amendments to the Vietnam-U.S. Bilateral Air Transport Agreement, which assists Vietnam Airlines in opening the route.

SGT