Runway lights activated at under-construction Long Thanh airport in Vietnam

The lighting system for runway No. 1 has just been completed and successfully tested, so it is now ready to serve calibration flights before the country's Reunification Day (April 30), as directed by the prime minister, ACV reported on the same day.

The system uses 100-percent LED technology imported from Europe, meeting the highest technical standards in international aviation.

In addition, Long Thanh Airport is equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) to guide aircraft safely during landing, even in adverse weather conditions.

The two systems operate in unison to ensure safe and precise take-offs and landings under all weather conditions, enhancing the airport's operational capacity and stability.

This achievement results from the relentless joint efforts of ACV, the project's investor, the Long Thanh airport project management board, and the contractor consortium, as part of the activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Reunification Day.

Specifically, the teams mobilized 1,025 personnel and 243 pieces of machinery, carrying out 30 simultaneous construction tasks to complete the installation of all equipment, ensuring stable and safe system operations.

"The successful activation of the lighting system is an important step forward, confirming that the runway is technically ready for calibration flights as planned before April 30," ACV affirmed.

The completion and operation of the modern lighting system not only mark key technical milestones but also reflect ACV's commitment to adopting the most advanced technological solutions at Long Thanh.

Runway No. 1 measures four kilometers in length and 75 meters in width, capable of accommodating the most advanced aircraft types currently in operation.

Together with the lighting system, the runway is set to be completed and ready for technical operations before April 30, shortening the timeline by three months compared to the original schedule, ACV stated.

The Long Thanh International Airport project, with an estimated investment of over VND336.63 trillion (US$12.93 billion), broke ground in January 2021 and is being developed in three phases.

Phase 1 has an investment of around VND109 trillion ($4.19 billion) and was initially scheduled for completion in 2026.

However, during his inspection of the project's construction site and related transport projects on March 20, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed that the first phase be completed by December 31, 2025 and put into operation in the first half of 2026.

Once phase 1 becomes operational, the airport, with one runway and one terminal, will be able to serve 25 million passengers and handle 1.2 million metric tons of cargo annually, according to Hanoi-based Aviation Logistics Corporation.

When all three phases are finished, likely after 2035, Long Thanh Airport is expected to have four runways and four terminals, with an annual capacity of 100 million passengers and five million metric tons of cargo.