USTDA gives second grant to Vietnam aviation agency

USTDA gives second grant to Vietnam aviation agency The U.S. Trade and Development Agency on Tuesday awarded a grant to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam to help the government agency enhancing aviation safety and assist Vietnam in meeting international aviation regulations.
   The $740,413 grant is part of a three-phase technical assistance program to encourage modern air safety regulation practices and to improve Vietnam's aviation technology infrastructure as the country's aviation sector continues to experience rapid growth, USTDA said.
   'In today's global economy, aviation infrastructure is essential to countries' economic development,' said USTDA Director Larry W. Walther during a ceremony to announce the grant. 'This agreement is designed to help further establish the aviation safety infrastructure that is necessary to support an expanding air services market in Vietnam, as well as the growing Vietnam-U.S. relationship resulting from our increasing trade and investment ties.'
   USTDA and the CAAV collaborated on a Phase I safety effort, launched in late 2006 with U.S. industry and the Federal Aviation Administration, to assist Vietnam and the CAAV in meeting defined international aviation standards. Tuesday's grant agreement would help complete the multi-year program by addressing the record keeping, licensing and certification procedures that are part of obtaining Category I status under the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment Program.
   CAAV has selected Washington, D.C.-based Robinson Aviation Inc. to provide the expert air safety and regulatory development services under the planned assistance program.
   “This collaboration is expected not only to improve safety and promote Vietnam's economic growth, but also U.S. aviation interests in the growing air services market of Vietnam and the broader Southeast Asia region,” USTDA said. “The potential is significant for long-term exports in airline services and systems, air traffic management technology and services, and aircraft sales.”