Affirming the position of Vietnam's aviation workforce on the international stage

As a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines, Vietnam Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (VAECO) has been approved by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as a maintenance training organization meeting EASA Part 147 standards, affirming the capacity for self-reliance in high-quality human resources of Vietnam’s aviation sector in the process of international integration.

Uong Viet Dung, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, said that the sustainable, rapid and absolutely safe development of the aviation industry does not only come from technology, but fundamentally from people, knowledge and discipline. VAECO’s certification is evidence of its efforts and rapid maturity, reflecting systematic investment in both technology and human resources, realized through the determination, will and intellect of its engineers and workforce.

EASA Part 147 is an international standard in aircraft maintenance training, allowing organizations to train engineers in accordance with European standards. Through this program, engineers can be granted certification privileges to certify maintenance for international aircraft types, particularly those registered in Europe.

The fact that an organization in Vietnam has achieved EASA Part 147 certification demonstrates that the country’s aviation technical training capacity has met international standards, while reducing training costs by up to 90%.

For many years, Vietnam Airlines has had to send engineers and technical staff abroad for EASA Part 147 training courses at very high cost. However, with VAECO’s training center now certified, training costs have been reduced to about 10% of previous levels, while more importantly enabling full mastery of the entire training process under EASA’s stringent standards.

Tran Quoc Hoai, Chief Executive Officer of VAECO, said: “Achieving EASA Part 147 certification marks an important step in improving the quality of technical human resources and standardizing aircraft maintenance training in line with international standards. Mastering a European-standard training system enables VAECO to proactively develop its maintenance engineering workforce, while contributing to strengthening operational safety and enhancing the technical capacity of Vietnam’s aviation sector as aircraft fleets become increasingly modern.”

With this certification, VAECO becomes the first organization in Vietnam to obtain EASA Part 147 approval, and one of four units in Southeast Asia holding both EASA Part 145 and Part 147 certifications for aircraft maintenance, repair and technical training activities.

“This is one of the fundamental factors for the aviation industry to develop sustainably and gradually enhance its competitiveness in the region,” Tran Quoc Hoai emphasized.

Staying committed to goals, overcoming challenges under stringent standards

Amid the strong transformation of the global civil aviation industry toward standardization and deeper integration, requirements for technical human resources, particularly in aircraft maintenance, are becoming increasingly stringent, demanding strict compliance with international standards in training and certification.

Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Members’ Council of Vietnam Airlines, stressed that as the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines not only pursues business efficiency but also maintains connectivity, sustains trade flows and reinforces market confidence. To achieve this, the enterprise must take the lead in accessing, adopting and mastering technologies, while continuously improving its internal capabilities.

Within that ecosystem, VAECO has consecutively obtained key international certifications such as those from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and EASA, and now becomes the first organization in Vietnam approved to provide aircraft maintenance training under EASA Part 147 standards. This milestone is not only significant for Vietnam Airlines but also represents a shared achievement for the entire Vietnamese aviation sector.

According to Dang Ngoc Hoa, in the coming period, Vietnam Airlines will continue to prioritize investment in human resources, enhance the quality of its engineering workforce, master training processes and optimize operations. These are key factors forming a solid foundation for the long-term and sustainable development of both the enterprise and Vietnam’s aviation industry.

With the foundation of EASA Part 147 certification, VAECO is gradually affirming its role not only as an aircraft maintenance organization but also as an international-standard aviation technical training center, contributing to elevating the position of Vietnam’s aviation industry on the global map.