Vietnam Airlines contests claims against pilot matters

Recently, a series of contents related to the operation of Vietnam Airlines such as the quality of pilot applicants’ input, the termination and reimbursement procedure of pilots, are directly impacting flight safety and have been questioned by Nguyen Sy Cuong, vice chairman of Committee for External Affairs of the National Assembly.

In particular, Cuong requested Minister of Transport, Nguyen Van The to look into these matters in order to soon clarify public's claims against Vietnam Airlines.

Under pilot training mechanism of Vietnam Airlines, the selection process is now just a formality as any applicants with the ability to pay the tuition fee will be eligible to study abroad at training establishments which are accepted by Vietnam Airlines.

However, most of the accepted flight establishments are small, unpopular with low tuition fee, which usually accompany with low quality of teaching.

In response, Vietnam Airlines has just submitted an explanation report to the Ministry of Transport.

Specifically, Vietnam Airlines’ pilots are mainly recruited from the army, official development assistance capital (ODA) support projects and self-application lists, while foreign pilots are recruited through well-known international pilot supply partners such as Rishworth Aviation Limited, Parc Aviation Limited, Direct Personnel International, Euro-Pacific Aviation International INC, Flight Crew Int.

The airlines affirmed that it is a necessity for pilot applicants to meet its health requirements, English proficiency and its rigorous entry tests.

Regarding the trainees that Vietnam Airlines sent overseas for training, they are trained at qualified establishments in compliance with requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

In addition, all graduated pilots are examined and certified by the competent aviation authority of the country that the trainees studied in. Vietnamese pilots who meet the requirements of recruitment will be accepted to Vietnam Airlines for another transference training.

Therefore, Vietnam Airlines ascertained that the recruitment of Vietnamese pilots is in accordance with the required standards, meeting the safety standards with internationally recognised qualifications.

In regard to the termination and reimbursement procedure of Vietnam Airlines’ pilots, the discrepancies between VNA’s severance policies and the Labor Law are another point of concern for the pilots.

In particular, Vietnam Airlines requires reimbursement of training costs and dismantling costs. The rate of reimbursement depends on the circumstances of the case, and this is known only when the pilots comes to pay. As a result, pilots considered these provisions to be absurd.

In response to these claims, Vietnam Airlines mentioned that the responsibility and level of reimbursement of training costs and compensation for breach of the post-training commitment are specified in the Labor Law, the Civil Law and other documents and contracts signed with the airline.

Therefore, pilots are well aware of these costs when entering the labor and training contract with Vietnam Airlines, according to the airline.