Courtesy Visit with Administrator of the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Accompanying Director Dinh Viet Thang were Deputy Director Do Hong Cam, together with Director of the Aviation Security Department, Director of the Legal - International Cooperation Department, and CAAV officials; Deputy General Director of Airports Corporation of Viet Nam Nguyen Duc Hung, Deputy General Director of Viet Nam Airlines Trinh Hong Quang, and leaders of security agencies, international airports of Viet Nam operating flights to the United States.

 

On this occassion, Director General Dinh Viet Thang expressed his delight and humbly recalled a previous exchange on Standards in Annex 17 of ICAO with TSA Representatives to Viet Nam region when TSA became a direct agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security in 2003.

Successive discussion on the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) agreement on United Airlines flights to Viet Nam in 2004 and the Coordinated assessment of the risk of Man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) in 2005 have established a close tie between the two ICAO member States, accelerating mutual cooperation and exchanges of information with regard to national civil aviation security programs, training programs, and aviation security quality control programs.

Over the past two decades, TSA has actively supported CAAV and the civil aviation industry through multiple specialized training courses on aviation security control operations, contributing to Viet Nam's improved aviation security capacity to ICAO standards.

Director General Dinh Viet Thang also emphasized that the Viet Nam civil aviation industry actively supports TSA in implementing annual assessment activities (LPD) for aviation security control work at international airports operating flights to the United States (Noi Bai International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport).

To date, more than 10 foreign airlines and Viet Nam Airlines along with 1 aircraft maintenance base - operating flights to the United States - have been assigned codes by TSA and control compliance with TSA's MSP security program requirements. Viet Nam's aviation security control work is assessed by SA to comply with the requirements of ICAO and the United States. As per the index, the risk of aviation security threats in Viet Nam is relatively low.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. David Pekoske said that the TSA evaluates Viet Nam as an important partner and thanks the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam for the cordial reception. Currently, TSA and US agencies are coordinating with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Security to implement procedures for approving drafts to officially sign the Deployment of Air Marshal Agreement between the two States this summer. This agreement is deemed to enhance the aviation safety in both countries.

 

In addition, the Administrator of the United States Transportation Security Administration also completely agreed with the proposal from CAAV on: signing technical support agreements, supporting the Viet Nam civil aviation industry; continue to cooperate in implementing training courses suitable for the development needs of civil aviation in the coming time, especially training courses on aviation security risk management; crisis management, dealing with illegal interventions in civil aviation operations; real-time emergency response drills for illegal interventions; support for upgrading aviation security training centers; training on liquid control, person inspection, personal belongings, goods, luggage on flights to the US.

Prior to this occassion, on the morning of June 6, 2024, Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan hosted a reception for Mr. David Pekoske and his team at the Ministry of Transport at 80 Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. /.

 (Trans. by Legal and International Cooperation Department)