(CPV) - The opening ceremony for the Flight Procedure Office (FPO) was held on July 11 at the headquarter of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV).

This activity is within the framework of the project “Capacity development for transition to the new CNS/ATM systems in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam” which is being implemented for 5 years from January 2011.

The 6 million USD - project aims to improve safety and efficiency of air traffic with the introduction of new flight control and operation method based on the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Photo: Hoang Linh

The system is called new CNS/ATM (Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management) which uses latest satellite technology for control and operation of aircraft to achieve maximum safety and efficiency in the air and on the ground.

The project includes dispatch of experts, acquisition of equipment, and training of counterparts in Japan and other countries.

Currently, number of flights which have origin or destination in Vietnam exceeds 155,000 annually, and those passing through Vietnamese airspace reach over 250,000. These numbers are expected to grow rapidly.

Via the implementation of the project, the capacity of Vietnamese airspace will be enlarged to meet growing air traffic demand with the upgrading of air control services and the introduction of more precise navigation of aircraft.

JICA will provide the PANADES software (an integrated software package for Flight Procedure Design that provides an innovative man-machine interface and high level of automation throughout the design process) for FPO under the technical support from the NTT Data Corporation./.