It is extremely difficult to “start up” in Vietnam’s oil and gas aviation industry with non-specialized sea-flying helicopters made by the Soviet Union, a fledgling personnel, and insufficient equipment for flight operations. However, generations of VNH South executives and staff have worked together to develop the unit into a big multinational oil and gas flight unit at present.
The strong willpower and determination of VNH South have been reflected in breakthrough strategies in human resource development, facility building as well as production and business strategies. Its management staff, pilots, aviation technical employees, and other ground service and security workers have all received extensive training both at home and abroad. Currently, the unit has pilots, management staff, and technicians with worldwide qualifications, meeting the stringent service standards of partners and gaining consumer trust.
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A helicopter of the Southern Vietnam Helicopter Company transfers a patient from a far-off island to Military Hospital 175 for treatment. |
In addition, VNH South has acquired various new modern specialized helicopters, including AW-189, EC-225, Super Puma L2, EC-155B1; modern infrastructure system, including terminals, runways, taxiways, parking lots, and ramps that meet the international standards. This has helped to establish the service flight brand of the Vietnam Helicopter (Arm Corps 18) in general, and VNH South in particular.
VNH South is always proud of providing sufficient helicopter services for many national socio-economic development. Also, it has reached out to the markets in Malaysia, Indonesia, Norway, Timor Leste, and India.
In fact, the birth of the company is associated with the development of the oil and gas industry. In recent years, the world oil market has experienced ups and downs, causing a sharp decrease in oil flights domestically and internationally. This has a great impact on the operation of Vietnam’s oil and gas industry and VNH South. The company’s leaders and functional agencies have studied the situation and founded new directions for development.
Facing the fluctuation in the oil industry in Vietnam and in the world, VNH South boldly performed major self-maintenance of two types of helicopters, Super Puma L2 and EC-155B1 (manufactured by Airbus Helicopters), with the support of factory experts right in Vung Tau Airport. After major on-site maintenance, the helicopters have been effectively and safely put into operation, saving hundreds of billions VND, which shows the qualifications and capacity of the company’s engineers, officers and technical staff.
During COVID-19 pandemic, the company has creatively applied domestic training to avoid delaying the staff’s study and work plans. Moreover, the company also meets the flight requirements for oil and gas exploration and production for oil companies in the southern continental shelf.
One of VNH South’s most significant mission is conducting military-defense flights. The company not only always successfully completes special flights for the military, State and Party leaders on business trips, but also successfully carried out numerous flights to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, for search and rescue operations, and to transfer patients from islands and DK1 platforms to the mainland for timely treatment. Since mid-2021, the unit has conducted many flights to Military Hospital 175 to practice emergency landing and take-off. On February 24, 2022, the Super Puma AS 332 L2 helicopter crew (flight numbered VN-8616) safely landed at Military Hospital 175’s helipad to hospitalize a fisherman suffering from severe Respiratory Distress and Pneumothorax. “By picking up the emergency crew and promptly transferring patients to the hospital for immediate treatment, the crew has built great confidence for fishermen, officers and soldiers to firmly protect the country’s maritime sovereignty,” said Major General Nguyen Hong Son, Director of Military Hospital 175.
In 2022, VNH South will receive the fourth AW-189 helicopter and conduct flights of aerial firefighting for the Indonesian market. “VNH South will always try its best to keep flight contracts under any circumstances. In addition, the unit will continue to expand and diversify services, from flying for large corporations like Novagroup, Trung Nam, Sovico, etc. to operating medical emergency and search and rescue flights with the help of Military Hospital 175,” said Senior Colonel Le Duc Long, Director of VNH South.
Thirty seven years of development not only proves VHN South’s perseverance to overcome difficulties and challenges, to stand and develop firmly, but also affirms its brand and contribution to the country’s development. With the right orientation and high determination, the unit will continue to succeed in 2022 and beyond as a pioneer of the Vietnamese service aviation industry.
Translated by Tra My - Duy Phuong - Hoai Phuong - Mai Phuong