following the Pakistani aviation authority’s investigation revealing that over 250 Pakistani pilots have fake licenses.

A Vietnam Airlines aircraft is seen at a local airport. CAAV has suspended 27 Pakistani pilots flying for Vietnamese carriers to check their licenses’ authenticity – PHOTO: VNA

The suspended pilots’ licenses were granted by the Pakistani aviation authority. CAAV is waiting for the final conclusion over the issue from the Pakistani authority to take further steps, said CAAV head Dinh Viet Thang.

Aside from these Pakistani pilots, there are no foreign pilots in Vietnam having their licenses issued by the Pakistani authority, the official confirmed.

To date, thousands of foreign pilots are flying for local airlines such as flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific, Vasco, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, according Tuoi Tre newspaper.

In 2011, South Korea’s aviation authority informed CAAV of a case in which Kim Tae Hun, a South Korean pilot that was working at Vietnam Airlines, was suspected to have used a fake license to fly an Airbus A320. The suspension came after he made a failed landing attempt at a Busan airport in South Korea.

On noticing the problematic landing, the Vietnamese captain immediately took over control of the plane from Kim Tae Hun.

Following a probe into his suspected fake license, CAAV confirmed that Kim Tae Hun had used the fake license and other relevant documents issued by the Indonesian aviation authority to fly Airbus A320 aircraft.

After his fake license was detected, Kim Tae Hun quit his job at Vietnam Airlines in August 2011 before CAAV completed the probe into his case.

Bamboo Airways affirms no employment of Pakistani pilots

Budget carrier Bamboo Airways on June 28 affirmed that it is not currently employing any Pakistani pilots or those using licenses granted by Pakistan.

Foreign pilots working for the airline are mainly from the UK, France, Germany, Brazil and Mexico, it said.

Earlier the same day, Vietnam Airlines Group, including Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), announced that foreign pilots working for them are not Pakistani nationals or use licenses granted by Pakistan.

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has suspended nearly 20 Pakistani pilots working for Vietnamese airlines after Pakistan discovered 262 local pilots using fake licenses.

The administrations is waiting for the review results from the Pakistani aviation authorities to determine if the pilots have used fake licenses, CAAV Director Dinh Viet Thang said, adding that the suspension will be removed if Vietnamese aviation authorities' review proves their licenses and qualifications are legal.

Tan Son Nhat airport’s runway to be closed for maintenance

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has decided to close a runway and some taxiways at Ho Chi Minh City-based Tan Son Nhat International Airport for maintenance and upgrade starting from July 1.

Accordingly, the 25R/07L runway and E1, NS1, W4 and W6 taxiways will be closed until the end of this year for the first phase of the maintenance project. The 25L/07R runway will be used during the closure.

Under the project, two rapid-exit and one parallel taxiway will be built, while six current sections will be improved.

The project will be carried out at a cost of over 2.01 trillion VND (86.7 million USD), according to the Ministry of Transport.

The Tan Son Nhat Airport has been asked to join hands with relevant agencies to ensure security, safety and operations at the airport during the implementation of the project and inform airlines of the closure of the 25R/07L runway.SGT/VNA