Boeing jet abandoned at Hanoi airport proposed for aviation training use

The current Ministry of Construction is a merger of the transport ministry and the construction ministry as part of a nationwide administrative restructuring drive.

In a proposal submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, the ministry suggested transferring the ownership of the Boeing B727-200 aircraft to the Vietnam Aviation Academy for use as a practical teaching tool.

The aircraft, once operated by Cambodia-based Royal Khmer Airlines, has been parked at Noi Bai since May 1, 2007.

An inspection by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) in June 2015 determined the 1975-built aircraft had severely deteriorated, rendering it inoperable and unfit for flight under both Vietnamese and international standards.

The abandoned aircraft has occupied valuable space within Noi Bai’s tarmac for years, hindering aircraft operations.

In January 2017, the Ministry of Finance officially transferred the state ownership of the aircraft, and the then-Ministry of Transport instructed the CAAV to proceed with auctioning the asset.

However, the auction process proved unfeasible.

Authorities cited the aircraft’s unique nature, lack of precedent in Vietnam or abroad, and its extremely low appraised value, which was insufficient to cover auction-related costs.

Since then, the CAAV has explored alternative solutions, including offering the plane to security and defense agencies, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, and ultimately, the Vietnam Aviation Academy.

After a comprehensive review, the CAAV concluded that transferring the aircraft to the Vietnam Aviation Academy was the most viable option.

The plan aligns with Vietnam’s Law on Management and Use of Public Assets and fits the academy’s needs for hands-on training in aviation engineering.

The Vietnam Aviation Academy has already submitted a formal request and usage plan, along with a commitment to finance the project without relying on state funding.

Economically, importing a comparable aircraft for training could cost up to VND500 billion (US$19 million).

In contrast, dismantling, transporting, and reassembling the abandoned Boeing are estimated to cost only VND8.7-9.7 billion ($332,000-370,000).

Based on this assessment, the Ministry of Construction proposed that Deputy PM Ha approve the change in asset management, from auctioning the Boeing B727-200 to assigning it to the Vietnam Aviation Academy for educational purposes, and authorize the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Construction to carry out the process.