Aviation Scene in Vietnam

[kaukau]

Hi There,

Just wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction to finding out more about the aviation scene in Vietnam, and Hanoi in particular.

I'm following my wife there on a diplomatic posting in mid 2006 and I'm keen to check out whether there might be flying opportunites there to pass my time (and to provide me with a little pocket money).

I'm farely low houred (500hrs with CPL/Multi IR plus a 'C'-Cat Instructor Rating from NZ) so the 2 major airlines there are most likely out of my league (even though they are recruiting - sigh!) My initial research also seems to suggest that apart from these 2 airlines (Pacific Airlines & Vietnam Airlines), there is not much local aviation happening.

I would gladly welcome any info that anyone can offer me on the flying scene in Vietnam - whether it be with the airlines, instructing with flying clubs etc, GA, and even mission or aid flying work.

Thanks and all the best for the season.

Kaukau

[alatnariver]

From what I have seen there a year a go, and I think it didn't change since then, there are no flying clubs or flight schools at least not for the public. Vietnam is a repidly developing socialist nation and the vaste majority of people just can't afford flying for private purposese, so this eliminates a flying club and GA scene nearly completly. I have never seen a small private operated aircraft in Vietnam. I think that Vietnamese aviation law prohebits any kind of private "fun" aviation, but I am not sure regariding the law.

I have never seen any GA operation in terms of charter flights for business operations and neither have I seen any mision or aid flying work except the flights operated by the USAF to bring home the remains of Vietnam war casualties.

Regarding both airlines, I was on contract for VN, they are only looking for experienced, typerated and curent pilots. So if you don't have the ratings and the hours they require I think there is absolutly no chance to land a job with them.

Unfortunatly I think you will have to fly back to NZ to enjoy flying.

By the way Vietnam is a beautiful country with mostly very polite people, but working in the airlines is a different point.

Enjoy your time in HAN!

[El Oso]

Hi,

Was there today...

There is a nice Beech King Air parked in SGN and of course there are Vietnam Airline's fleet of ATR's operating, but no light piston stuff that I'm aware of. Perhaps you could hunt down the Vietnam Airlines ATR fleet CPT and ask if there's a chance for you there as an F/O... (You may need a rating, but thats possibly available in Thailand I understand - from memory Mt Cook lost a CPT to a Thai ATR operator in 1999 and I heard there was an ATR sim in BKK). There are a few Ozzies and Kiwis flying A320's in Vietnam, networking them can only help eh!

Only help I can offer, hope it helps...

:ok: