Vietnam Reviews Air Traffic Control Infrastructure After US Outage
A US air traffic control outage halted takeoffs nationwide on November 13, with disruptions continuing after the order was lifted. Vietnam’s air traffic management corporation has reviewed its technical infrastructure and strengthened backup networks, emergency plans, radar systems, data monitoring and cybersecurity measures.
An air traffic control outage in the United States on November 13 temporarily halted takeoffs nationwide. Flight cancellations and delays affected airports in Canada, Europe and parts of Asia. The order was lifted at 8:15 a.m. Vietnam time on November 14, but flight operations remained disrupted.
Passengers waiting for flights at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.（VietVance）
Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) said on November 14 that it had reviewed its technical infrastructure, strengthened backup systems and improved its plans for responding to widespread outages. VATM said primary and backup systems must remain independent; if they share cables, equipment or transmission infrastructure, a failure at one point could shut down both.
VATM is building a multilayer backup network combining fiber-optic cables with a dedicated satellite communications system, and regularly checks the independence of its transmission routes. The corporation has invested in replacing 10 radar systems with a new generation of equipment, upgraded the Ho Chi Minh City Area Control Center after more than 20 years of operation, and continues to modernize Hanoi’s air traffic management system.
Air traffic controllers on duty at the Noi Bai control tower.（VietVance）
VATM is also addressing the risk that equipment may continue operating while transmitting inaccurate data. It is developing a digital network operations center to monitor data quality and detect transmission, radar and communications anomalies early. Its Air Traffic Flow Management Center operates around the clock and can adjust departure times, operating capacity and flight routes during disruptions. VATM said critical air traffic control systems are isolated from the internet, with technical infrastructure and cybersecurity monitored around the clock.
Source: VietVance
