Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam
Encyclopedia
The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) is the aviation authority
under the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam. It handles and regulates civil aviation
in Vietnam. Among its functions are: the formulation of plans and programs to develop civil aviation; the development of legal drafts, regulations and standards relating to civil aviation; information dissemination and education on aviation law
; aviation safety and security; airport, aircraft and flight management; environmental protection; search and rescue
and flood prevention; ratifying air fares proposed by airlines operating in Vietnam; research and development
; handling complaints and/or violations of aviation law; administrative reform; and financial and personnel affairs.
As of 2001, CAAV managed 19 airports throughout Vietnam, focusing on three main international airports: Tan Son Nhat Airport, Noi Bai Airport, and Da Nang Airport. The agency has its headquarters at Gia Lam Airport
, Hanoi
, and also has offices in Ho Chi Minh City
.
(Ministry of Defense
), upon the issuance of Decision No.666/TTG of the Vietnamese government. It was originally tasked with state management, national defense, and commercialization of air transportation. The aviation sector expanded greatly during its formative years, expanding from a few aircraft in what was then North Vietnam
to eventually include a fleet of over 50 aircraft (including both Soviet- and American-made craft) in a unified Vietnam after 1976. Infrastructure was improved during this time, as airports country-wide were equipped with better facilities and materials for flight management and operations. CAAV grew to serve around 250,000 passengers a year, both domestically and on international routes to China, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.
A dramatic decrease in foreign aid in the early 1980s led to a crisis for the CAAV, which found itself unable to replace aging aircraft at a time when the demand for air transportation was rising. At the same time, it became apparent that years of focusing on military functions had led to a decrease in efficiency, both economically and personnel-wise. In response, the CAAV underwent a renovation in its organizational structure and culture, refocusing itself on equipment repair and maintenance, and establishing two main tasks for the civil aviation sector: air transportation and air services. To reflect its new structure, national flag carrier
Vietnam Airlines
was established by government decree in 1989 (Decision No.225/CT). In February 1990, the CAAV was transferred out of the Ministry of Defence to the Ministry of Transport, Post and Communications. Vietnam Airlines completed its restructuring programme and formally split from the Civil Aviation Administration to become a state enterprise in 1993. All the same, for the next few years, the new airline continued to be known as Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam. In 1996, Vietnam Airlines was officially incorporated with a number of aviation-related businesses into the present Vietnam Airlines Corporation. The early 1990s were a time of notable growth in the civil aviation sector of Vietnam—the sector expanded by 31% in 1995 alone. In the following years, however, the 1997 Asian financial crisis brought a downturn in growth, and further challenges to the sector.
Civil Aviation Authority
This is a list of national and supra-national civil aviation authorities.-See also:* Air route authority between the United States and the People's Republic of China* National Transportation Safety Board -External links:****...
under the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam. It handles and regulates civil aviation
Civil aviation
Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices...
in Vietnam. Among its functions are: the formulation of plans and programs to develop civil aviation; the development of legal drafts, regulations and standards relating to civil aviation; information dissemination and education on aviation law
Aviation law
Aviation law is the branch of law that concerns flight, air travel, and associated legal and business concerns. Some of its area of concern overlaps that of admiralty law and in many cases, aviation law is considered a matter of international law due to the nature of air travel. However, the...
; aviation safety and security; airport, aircraft and flight management; environmental protection; search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
and flood prevention; ratifying air fares proposed by airlines operating in Vietnam; research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
; handling complaints and/or violations of aviation law; administrative reform; and financial and personnel affairs.
As of 2001, CAAV managed 19 airports throughout Vietnam, focusing on three main international airports: Tan Son Nhat Airport, Noi Bai Airport, and Da Nang Airport. The agency has its headquarters at Gia Lam Airport
Gia Lam Airport
Gia Lam Airport is one of two major airports in Hanoi, Vietnam, located in Gia Lâm District, on the eastern bank of the Red River. It is primarily a military field, used by the Vietnam People's Air Force , with MiG-21 fighters and Kamov Ka-28 helicopters stored in revetments. The airfield was...
, Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
, and also has offices in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
.
History
The agency was founded as Vietnam Civil Aviation in January 1956 by the Vietnam People's Air ForceVietnam People's Air Force
The Vietnam People's Air Force is the air force of Vietnam. It is the successor of the former North Vietnamese Air Force and the absorbed Republic of Vietnam Air Force following the re-unification of Vietnam in 1975.-Beginning-1964 :The first Vietnamese aircraft were two trainers, a de Havilland...
(Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Defence (Vietnam)
Ministry of Defence is the governmental ministry of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that manages, coordinates and supervises military affairs, including all military units, paramilitary units, and similar agencies in the country. The major office of the Ministry of Defence is located within the...
), upon the issuance of Decision No.666/TTG of the Vietnamese government. It was originally tasked with state management, national defense, and commercialization of air transportation. The aviation sector expanded greatly during its formative years, expanding from a few aircraft in what was then North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
to eventually include a fleet of over 50 aircraft (including both Soviet- and American-made craft) in a unified Vietnam after 1976. Infrastructure was improved during this time, as airports country-wide were equipped with better facilities and materials for flight management and operations. CAAV grew to serve around 250,000 passengers a year, both domestically and on international routes to China, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.
A dramatic decrease in foreign aid in the early 1980s led to a crisis for the CAAV, which found itself unable to replace aging aircraft at a time when the demand for air transportation was rising. At the same time, it became apparent that years of focusing on military functions had led to a decrease in efficiency, both economically and personnel-wise. In response, the CAAV underwent a renovation in its organizational structure and culture, refocusing itself on equipment repair and maintenance, and establishing two main tasks for the civil aviation sector: air transportation and air services. To reflect its new structure, national flag carrier
Flag carrier
A flag carrier is a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given country, enjoys preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations. It may be a state-run, state-owned or private but...
Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines Company Limited, trading as Vietnam Airlines , is the national flag carrier of Vietnam. Founded in 1956 under the name Vietnam Civil Aviation, the airline was established as a state enterprise in April 1989. Vietnam Airlines is headquartered in Long Bien, Hanoi, with hubs at Noi...
was established by government decree in 1989 (Decision No.225/CT). In February 1990, the CAAV was transferred out of the Ministry of Defence to the Ministry of Transport, Post and Communications. Vietnam Airlines completed its restructuring programme and formally split from the Civil Aviation Administration to become a state enterprise in 1993. All the same, for the next few years, the new airline continued to be known as Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam. In 1996, Vietnam Airlines was officially incorporated with a number of aviation-related businesses into the present Vietnam Airlines Corporation. The early 1990s were a time of notable growth in the civil aviation sector of Vietnam—the sector expanded by 31% in 1995 alone. In the following years, however, the 1997 Asian financial crisis brought a downturn in growth, and further challenges to the sector.