US supports Vietnam Airlines to bolster flight security
The US Trade and Development Agency signed a pact Thursday with Vietnam Airlines to help the national flag carrier enhance its security service, paving the way for direct commercial flights to the 
US.
The US$350,000 accord is part of two-years of funding totaling $1.4 million, aimed at supporting Vietnam to acquire the Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) Standard 1 laid down by the US-tailored International Aviation Safety Assessment Program.
The pact marked a significant milestone in the development of bilateral ties between the countries, allowing Vietnamese carriers to gear up for direct commercial flights to the US, said Michael Marine, US Ambassador to Vietnam.
The Vietnamese government has directed the national flag carrier to mobilize all available resources in preparation for the first straight Vietnam-US commercial flight at the soonest.
Since the two sides normalized diplomatic relations in 1995, the first commercial flight from the US to Vietnam touched down at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport in December 2004.
Source: Thanh Nien News
