The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam is completing procedures and improving the local aviation industry's capacity in order to open a direct air route to the US. 

Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAA) Lai Xuan Thanh said if the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved of its aviation monitoring capability level 1 then the plan to open a direct air route to the US can be realised. 

The FAA will carry out a technical review in May and this will be used for the coming International Aviation Safety Assessment program by the FAA.

The CAA has completed the legal frameworks and guidance documents in related to aviation safety and monitoring. 

It also trained personnel and implemented plans to monitor employees' work in the most efficient way. 

Employees were sent to overseas training courses in order to earn FAA certification.

The CAA must also complete the regulations on fines and other punishments and how aviation authorities ensure flight safety.   

Vietnam Airlines participated in this plan many years ago and has put two modern planes into operation. 

It hopes to start the direct route to San Francisco or Los Angeles with a technical stop in Tokyo or Osaka in Japan.

Duong Tri Thanh, director of Vietnam Airlines said it would respond to the FAA's assessment and hoped to implement the route in 2018.

Vietnam Airlines currently has seven flights to 25 locations in the US under codeshare agreements with other airlines. 

24 local and international airlines are operating flights from Vietnam to the US from Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat and Danang airports.

dtinews