Passengers wait at Tan Son Nhat Airport

The new method is developed under the co-operation of the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) and NAVBLUE (Airbus) Company which started in December 2016.

According to VATM, with the application of RNAV 1, aircraft do not have to circle over the airport, thus slashing fuel consumption and improving economic efficiency.

Under the old method of navigation, aeroplanes can land at the airport during off-peak hours but the captain must contact air traffic control officials to demand a time slot during peak hours. Many aircraft have to circle over the airport and communication between captains and officials sometimes is disrupted, which pose risks.

The new method of navigation enables aircraft to operate on any desired flight paths within the coverage of the station-referenced navigation.

Airlines will benefit from this new method of navigation as it helps aeroplanes land on schedule and cut flight delays.

The adoption of RNAV 1 comes at a time when Tan Son Nhat Airport is dealing with severe air traffic congestion with an average of 700 takeoffs and landings a day and the number surged to over 900 on certain days during the Tet Holiday this year.

HCMC urges road expansion project at TSN airport

Traffic congestion is seen on Truong Son Street, a key road leading to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The HCMC government has told the Department of Planning and Architecture to collaborate with the Tan Binh District authority to promptly review and adjust the plan for a road expansion project around the airport

The HCMC government has told the Department of Planning and Architecture to collaborate with the Tan Binh District authority to promptly review and adjust the plan for a road expansion project around Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.

The municipal government has asked the relevant agencies to update the 1/2000 zoning plan for four wards around the airport to complete procedures to adjust the plan on developing a road connecting Tran Quoc Hoan Street with Cong Hoa Street. The adjustment process was required to be completed in November.

Earlier in 2016, the project was passed by the HCMC People’s Council to ease traffic congestion at the airport.

However, the Ministry of Transport approved the plan adjustment for Tan Son Nhat International Airport until 2030, by which time the third passenger terminal of the airport, or Terminal T3, will be built, raising the airport’s total capacity to 50 million passengers per year and creating additional pressure on traffic in the area.

As such, the project to open the connecting road is in need of further adjustment to ensure a smooth traffic flow.

The projected 4.4-kilometer-long road requires a total investment of VND4.8 trillion, rising by VND3.4 trillion, with compensation and resettlement costs amounting to over VND2.6 trillion.

After the project is adjusted, the road will be divided into five sections with six lanes that are 29.5-48 meters wide, rather than four sections with four lanes.

The construction phase of the project is set to last until 2024. Dtinews/SGT

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