Unveiling the Unprecedented: A Pilot’s Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Look at Long Thanh Airport’s Historic Inauguration

Pilot: “I Was Extremely Nervous”

The special flight numbered VN5001 was operated using the “super aircraft” Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, departing from Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City at 3:20 PM and landing at Long Thanh Airport at 4:00 PM. The cockpit crew consisted of two pilots, with Captain Tran Tuan Hung, Deputy Head of the Boeing 787 Fleet at Vietnam Airlines, as the primary pilot.

Speaking with Tien Phong Newspaper, Captain Tran Tuan Hung shared that in his 30 years of flying and over 22,000 flight hours, he has conducted numerous special flights for state leaders and handled tense rescue missions during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the flight to Long Thanh evoked a unique emotion.

“I was assigned to pilot the flight to Long Thanh a week ago, and I was thrilled. The preparation was meticulous, involving detailed discussions with various departments and thorough scenario reviews. The crew practiced in the flight simulator at Tan Son Nhat, studied new flight procedures, and prepared for potential situations at a brand-new airport,” Captain Tran Tuan Hung explained.

According to Captain Tran Tuan Hung, this was a technical flight originating from Tan Son Nhat. While the full procedure was scheduled for 40 minutes, the actual flight time was approximately 25 minutes. The aircraft did not carry commercial passengers; onboard were over 20 individuals, including the flight crew, aviation authorities, technical staff, and air traffic controllers.

“The goal of this flight was not speed or altitude but precision and coordination,” the captain stated. He emphasized that the runway, taxiways, technical systems, and inter-unit coordination must operate seamlessly to ensure absolute safety, just like regular commercial flights.

“As the aircraft descended to land at Long Thanh, the cockpit became quieter. I received instructions from air traffic control. Hearing the welcoming message to Long Thanh Airport for the first time was exhilarating; the subsequent communication was concise and professional, similar to routine flights.

Despite being a pilot for 30 years, I was extremely nervous. I had the honor of piloting the first flight to land at Long Thanh—a landmark project for our nation,” Captain Tran Tuan Hung shared. He added, “The greatest challenge wasn’t the aircraft handling but ensuring seamless system integration and coordination across all stages, which was the most complex task.”

For Captain Tran Tuan Hung, piloting the first flight to Long Thanh was more than a professional duty; it was a profound responsibility and a source of immense pride. “Today marks just the beginning, but it’s a memorable one. I’m confident that Long Thanh will soon rival the region’s most advanced airports,” he expressed.

After landing, the Boeing 787 remained at Long Thanh for approximately one hour to complete standard ground procedures. Subsequently, flight VN5002 departed Long Thanh for Tan Son Nhat, concluding the meaningful inaugural flight on December 15.

Why Choose the Boeing 787?

Before this special mission, the Boeing 787 operated a regular passenger flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. After landing, the aircraft underwent technical inspections, and the crew was replaced. Captain Tran Tuan Hung then took command of flight VN5001 for the inaugural landing at Long Thanh International Airport.

Given the short distance between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh, this technical flight did not carry passengers. Typically, airlines select aircraft based on route length and passenger capacity, with narrow-body aircraft being cost-effective for short routes. So, why did Vietnam Airlines choose the “super aircraft” Boeing 787 for a 25-minute flight?

Mr. To Ngoc Giang, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines and Head of Flight Crew 919, explained to Tien Phong Newspaper that selecting the wide-body Boeing 787 for this short route was deliberate. “Operating larger aircraft is always more complex than smaller ones. We needed to verify that the runway, taxiways, apron, and equipment at Long Thanh could fully support wide-body aircraft operations,” Mr. Giang clarified.

According to Mr. Giang, with many airport facilities still under construction, the Boeing 787’s large wingspan and strong turbulence generation allowed for a realistic assessment of technical, terrain, and meteorological conditions. This was crucial for ensuring absolute safety as the airport transitions to commercial operations.

The selection of pilots for this flight was equally rigorous. The Head of Flight Crew 919 noted, “Pilots had to be highly experienced with extensive flight hours. Specifically, they must be flight instructors and part of the management team. These criteria ensured pilots could handle unconventional situations or management-related issues beyond standard flight operations during the inaugural flight to Long Thanh—an airport still under construction. Captain Tran Tuan Hung met all these requirements and was selected.”

Immediately after landing at Long Thanh, relevant units convened under the chairmanship of the Director of the Vietnam Aviation Authority to evaluate the flight. “The results confirmed that the entire process of flight VN5001 proceeded smoothly, with seamless coordination among units and optimal system performance,” Mr. Giang reported.

According to Vietnam Airlines leadership, Captain Tran Tuan Hung will also pilot the first commercial flight on December 19.