Vietnam Considers Regulatory Changes to Import China's Comac C909 Aircraft

In a recent report to the Ministry of Construction, CAAV outlined necessary modifications to existing decrees and circulars to establish a legal framework for bringing the aircraft into Vietnam.

China’s COMAC C909 aircraft. Photo: The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam

Technical Assessment and Certification Review

Between January 15 and January 24, a CAAV delegation traveled to Shanghai to meet with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The visit aimed to evaluate the technical specifications, operational aspects, and certification process of the Comac ARJ21-700 (C909) aircraft.

According to CAAV, China’s aviation safety regulations (CAAC Regulations) are structured similarly to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards in the United States. The C909 is a short- to medium-haul jet with a seating capacity of 78 to 95 passengers, a cruising speed of approximately 825 km/h, and a maximum altitude of 12,200 meters.

Operational Performance and Safety Record

As of January 5, Comac has delivered 160 C909 aircraft to 12 airlines—11 in China and one in Indonesia. The fleet has collectively transported over 19.16 million passengers across 633 routes, serving 158 cities and 181 airports with more than 330,000 takeoffs and landings.

Comac’s data indicates that the C909 has maintained a strong safety record with no reported major accidents or serious incidents since entering service. In 2024, the aircraft achieved an average daily flight time of 5.2 hours (block time) and a dispatch reliability rate exceeding 99%.

Regulatory Adjustments for Import Approval

Following its review of CAAC’s aircraft certification system and relevant documentation, CAAV concluded that China’s airworthiness standards are largely compatible with international norms, with only minor differences—primarily concerning the use of Chinese language labels on aircraft components.

To pave the way for the C909’s entry into the Vietnamese market, CAAV has formally requested the Ministry of Construction to amend specific provisions in Decree No. 92/2016/ND-CP and Circular No. 01/2011/TT-BGTVT. These changes would allow Vietnam to recognize China’s airworthiness certification as a basis for aircraft import approval.

Once the necessary regulatory updates are in place, CAAV will proceed with recognizing the Type Certificate (TC) for the Comac C909, clearing the way for its official entry into Vietnam’s aviation sector.

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