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The 2023 World Safety and Operations Conference (WSOC) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is taking place in Hanoi from September 19 to September 21, 2023. As Vietnam Airlines (VNA) has the honor of hosting this significant conference, the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Dang Ngoc Hoa, shared some insights with Heritage Magazine.
The 2023 World Safety and Operations Conference will convene over 800 global aviation leaders and experts to deliberate on enhancing safety and operational efficiency after a prolonged period of Covid-19’s impact. Could you please elaborate on why VNA was chosen to host the 2023 WSOC?
The 2023 World Safety and Operations Conference, themed “Leadership in Action: Advancing Safer and More Efficient Operations,” provides a pivotal platform to address challenges and opportunities for ensuring the stable trajectory of the aviation industry as it directs its resources toward recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. Safety consistently stands as the foremost priority in all global aviation endeavors, and VNA adheres to the same principle: Safety is non-negotiable.
With its experience in building a robust safety system and maintaining high safety standards, aligned with the stringent criteria set forth by the IATA, the SkyTeam Alliance, the safety committees of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), VNA is entirely confident in collaborating with the global aviation community to strengthen awareness and knowledge of aviation safety. This is also an opportunity to share successful initiatives and solutions implemented within our system and to learn from experiences of other organizations, in pursuit of a shared goal of safety across worldwide aviation operations.
The IATA’s choice of Vietnam and VNA to host this conference is a recognition of the safety management capabilities of our airline and the aviation organizations in Vietnam.
Could you provide insight into VNA’s safety ranking compared to other global airlines?
Having engaged in the IOSA evaluation program for two decades, VNA has consistently garnered high evaluations from the IATA. Notably, key safety indices relating to flight safety significantly outpace domestic airlines and surpass global benchmarks. VNA has successfully renewed the IOSA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification for the 10th consecutive time, ensuring full compliance with IOSA standards based on its four core objectives: Ensuring the Reliability of the Safety-Assured Quality Program; Standardizing Assessment Processes; Ensuring Continuous Adherence to IOSA Standards; and Focusing on Implementation.
VNA is the first Vietnamese airline to achieve a 4-star international rating by Skytrax and the first in Southeast Asia to join the SkyTeam alliance, the sole global aviation alliance with a Safety Committee applying top-tier safety standards. We stand among the few airlines worldwide licensed for Extended Diversion Time Operations (EDTO) of 207 minutes for Boeing 787s and 240 minutes for Airbus A350s. Moreover, VNA is the sole Vietnamese airline capable of meeting the world’s highest technical standards for regular direct flights between Vietnam and the United States.
Recently, VNA received the highest safety rating from AirlineRatings, a reputable website specializing in evaluating global airline safety and service quality. With a perfect score of 7/7, VNA was honored as one of the top 20 airlines globally for safety and service quality in 2023.
What measures has VNA taken to achieve international safety standards?
Since its inception, VNA has remained committed to establishing an efficient and internationally-standardized air transportation safety system. We have invested in creating synchronized aviation transportation processes, technical infrastructure, modern aircraft fleets, new technologies, and notably, a high-quality workforce.
VNA was the world’s first airline to successfully operate both state-of-the-art wide-body aircraft, the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, simultaneously. Our airline operates the most advanced fleet in the region. Moreover, we are the only entity in Vietnam with a comprehensive, high-quality aviation training and specialization program equipped with A321, A350, and Boeing 787 flight simulators. Our subsidiary, Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company (VAECO), is the sole facility in Vietnam accredited by the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for providing maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. Vietnam Airport Ground Services (VIAGS), a subsidiary of VNA, has also been awarded the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) certification – a safety assessment standard for ground service providers.
Another crucial point is that VNA consistently focuses on and has achieved success in building and operating a safety management system based on safety data for predictive analysis, risk identification, prompt mitigation, and prevention of potential hazards. The airline employs state-of-the-art technologies to monitor aircraft technical conditions, enabling proactive measures for prevention, rectification, and response to potential incidents, ensuring absolute safety for all flights. The airline also places significant priority on fostering a “Safety Culture” within its system and has attained the high rating of “Proactive” across all aspects, including safety reporting, safety investigations, handling safety information, and preventative measures.
What are VNA’s plans concerning its safety strategy?
VNA’ safety management system is continuously evolving and meeting the standards set by aviation authorities, associations, and alliances to which VNA belongs. Given the stringent safety standards in the aviation industry, coupled with the dynamic nature of human consciousness and behavior, establishing a safety culture must remain an ongoing, perpetual effort for Vietnam Airlines. This endeavor aims at continually reinforcing and elevating awareness among all staff members.
Our ambition extends to the year 2025, wherein VNA’s safety culture will attain the highest “Generative” level, with the ultimate goal of ensuring absolute safety across all operations. We are committed to transforming safety culture into a core value, an underpinning of our corporate culture, as well as a fundamental aspect of each individual’s activities within VNA.
