In January 2026, 18 newly graduated engineers from the Vietnam Aviation Academy traveled to Xiamen, China, to begin a prestigious international training program with HAECO Group. This milestone marks a major step forward in aligning local academic talent with global aircraft maintenance standards.
The demand for highly qualified aircraft maintenance engineers is rising rapidly as global aviation expands. Responding to this critical industry need, the Vietnam Aviation Academy (VAA) has achieved an impressive milestone. During the intake for the global training program hosted by HAECO, one of the leading Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) providers in the Asia-Pacific region, 18 out of the 24 selected trainees were engineering graduates from VAA. This major achievement highlights the academy’s strong educational quality and underscores the ability of Vietnamese engineering graduates to compete successfully in the international aviation workforce.
The opening ceremony in Xiamen, China, was a high-profile event attended by top executive leadership from the HAECO Group, including Mr. Ben Scheidel, Group Director of Airframe Services. The presence of senior executives emphasizes the deep importance HAECO places on this training partnership and shows a clear corporate confidence in the professional foundation provided by VAA. Prior to launching the program, HAECO representatives visited the VAA campus directly to conduct comprehensive recruitment and candidate assessments. Successful applicants were required to meet demanding standards, hand-picked for their technical knowledge, English proficiency, professional conduct, and absolute readiness to work in a global aviation environment.
The training program itself is highly structured, offering a clear four-year pathway to professional development. Trainees spend two years in advanced professional training combined with two years of hands-on vocational experience in operational aircraft maintenance environments. Through this rotational model, the engineers balance rigorous classroom learning at internationally accredited facilities with real-world, on-the-job training (OJT) in active hangars. Under the careful guidance of experienced mentors and international experts, these young professionals gain exposure to modern technologies as they work toward receiving internationally recognized qualifications that meet both CAAV (Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam) and HKCAD (Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department) standards, ultimately granting them official aircraft sign-off authority.
This initiative is a direct, practical outcome of VAA’s industry-oriented training approach, which closely connects academic education with major industry enterprises. By sending its graduates into world-class training programs, VAA reinforces its role as a premier supplier of high-quality human resources for the global aviation sector. Looking ahead, HAECO has already announced plans to continue its campus recruitment at VAA throughout 2026. This ongoing relationship gives current and future engineering students a steady, reliable pathway to build international careers and maintain the safety of global skies.
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