Long Thanh Airport marks its first calibration flight milestone

(VIETNAM) Long Thanh International Airport reached a key milestone on September 26, 2025, completing its first official calibration flight as Vietnam moves to open the country’s largest aviation project in the first half of 2026. A specialized Beechcraft King Air 300 departed Tan Son Nhat at 6:00 a.m. and entered Long Thanh airspace to begin a series of precise checks of navigation and lighting systems.

Aviation officials say the campaign, which runs through October 24, 2025, is the final mandatory inspection before equipment can be certified for commercial service under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

What the calibration flight means

The calibration flight marks a practical turning point: it confirms that the infrastructure built over several years is now being tested in real operating conditions.

On day one, the aircraft flew 30 continuous technical patterns—including approaches, level holds, and go-arounds—to verify signal strength, accuracy, and stability. The goal is simple but strict: every key navigational aid must guide pilots safely to the runway in all weather, day and night.

The team conducting the work includes experts from Air Traffic Technical Company Limited (ATTECH) and specialists from the Czech Air Navigation Institute. This mix provides both local knowledge and international objectivity in the assessment.

The Beechcraft King Air 300 was chosen for its flexible maneuverability and high stability—traits that let it fly repeatable profiles needed for exact calibration. These aircraft are a standard tool for aviation authorities worldwide for flight inspection missions.

Calibration campaign and systems under test

According to airport project managers, the campaign will test a wide set of critical systems that support safe landings and departures. The focus includes two Instrument Landing System/Distance Measuring Equipment (ILS/DME) units with CAT II precision capability, which help pilots land in low visibility.

It also covers the VOR/DME, which provides radio-based guidance to and from the airfield, as well as radar and ADS-B surveillance that feed air traffic control with aircraft position data.

Key systems under evaluation:
– ILS/DME (CAT II) for precision approaches
– VOR/DME for en route and terminal navigation
– Runway and taxiway lighting, including approach lighting systems
– PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator) lights for correct glide slope
– Radar and ADS-B for surveillance and separation

Flights are taking place in both daylight and after dark to capture performance across different conditions. Engineers are paying special attention to runway lighting intensity and uniformity, navigation beacon accuracy, and the reliability of monitoring equipment.

Each test run is designed to stress the system and verify consistent performance. Any drift outside tight tolerances will be noted and fixed before certification.

This is the last technical gate before commissioning the airfield for commercial use. To meet international standards, nothing is left to chance.

The process includes repeat checks, cross-verifications, and sign-offs that confirm the system is safe and stable across varied weather patterns typical of southern Vietnam.

Timeline, construction progress, and capacity

Long Thanh sits on 5,000 hectares in Dong Nai Province, about 40 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. Construction crews—nearly 14,000 engineers and workers—have reached major build milestones:
– Runway No. 1 and the taxiway system are in place
– Terminal roof and glass panels are installed
– Control tower and operations buildings are nearing completion

The government’s target is clear. Under the directive of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, construction must be substantially completed by the end of 2025, and commercial flights should begin in the first half of 2026.

Some planning documents have pointed to December 19, 2025 as a potential inauguration target, though officials continue to emphasize the broader first-half-2026 window for opening.

Phase 1 includes:
– One runway, one passenger terminal, and support facilities
– Capacity for 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year

Long-term projection (all phases complete):
– Up to 100 million passengers and five million tons of cargo annually

These figures would position Long Thanh as a major regional hub and help reduce pressure at Tan Son Nhat.

Operational plan and effects on flight distribution

Operational planning suggests a split of flights between the two airports to reduce congestion and improve connections. Initial operational allocations under discussion include:
– Long Thanh: 80% of international flights, 10% of domestic flights
– Tan Son Nhat: 20% of international flights, 90% of domestic flights
– International routes of 1,000 kilometers or more prioritized for Long Thanh
– On key domestic routes (Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang–Ho Chi Minh City), Long Thanh could carry 10–12% of passenger volume

For travelers, this means many long-haul and regional international flights are likely to move to Long Thanh once it opens. Potential benefits:
– Shorter taxi times and more on-time departures as Tan Son Nhat’s congestion eases
– More stable schedules and better connections for visa trips, school start dates, and business travel
– Airlines able to launch new routes previously constrained by crowded Ho Chi Minh City airspace

Safety, scheduling resilience, and economic impact

The calibration flight also matters for safety during the airport’s first months of service. Precision approach systems like CAT II ILS/DME give pilots lower decision heights in poor weather, helping prevent diversions and cancellations.

For people flying for work permits, study, medical treatment, or family visits, fewer weather-related disruptions reduce missed appointments and rebooking costs. VisaVerge.com reports that large, well-equipped hubs tend to offer more resilient schedules, improving connections for immigration-related travel and time-sensitive journeys.

Air traffic managers say the early operational concept will evolve based on:
– Demand
– Airline interest
– Data from the first wave of flights

Cargo operators are watching closely too. The planned freight capacity could draw more logistics traffic, supporting Vietnam’s export economy and creating steadier air links for high-value goods.

Remaining steps and what to watch

As the calibration campaign continues through October 24, the Beechcraft King Air 300 will keep flying test profiles to validate every element of the navigation network. Once the team signs off and regulators accept the results, equipment can be commissioned for commercial use.

The final months of 2025 will then focus on:
1. Finishing construction
2. Staff training
3. Emergency drills
4. Readiness checks across the terminal, runway, and control systems

Officials stress that the airport’s opening timeline depends on hitting each technical checkpoint. The careful pace of the calibration work reflects that: every pass, every approach, and every night run adds to the evidence needed to prove Long Thanh is ready for safe operations on day one.

For policy watchers, the project reflects a long-term plan to spread air traffic across the southern region and to build a platform for future international links. The split of domestic and international services between Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat is designed to balance convenience for local travelers with the runway and gate capacity needed for widebody jets.

Aviation regulation will continue to follow national rules set by the government, including technical oversight of navigation aids and air traffic services. Readers can track official updates and policy notices from the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam at https://mt.gov.vn.

The coming weeks will be full of numbers and test reports as the calibration flight series advances. For most travelers, the message is straightforward: Long Thanh is getting close. The systems that guide pilots to the runway are being checked, tuned, and checked again. If the results hold, Vietnam will open a new gateway in 2026—one built to handle the traffic of tomorrow.