VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese students studying at the Ahart pilot training center in California have asked the Ministry of Transport for help after the center was suspended by the US Federal Aviation Administration last October.

Minister Dinh La Thang met with the families of 79 Vietnamese pilot students last week.

The Ahart center was closed, and its owner, a Vietnamese-American named Nguyen Minh Duc, disappeared after collecting $85,000 from each student.

Of the 79 Vietnamese students studying at the Ahart institute, 21 of them were funded by the low-cost airline Vietjet and the remaining paid for the tuition themselves.

The Vietnamese students have left the school, and VietJet’s officials have gone to the US to help the students, giving them $10,000/person.

The students need the assistance of the Ministry of Transport to continue studying at another training center in the US since their families paid Minh and they can no longer afford to pay for training.

According to the Chief of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV), Mr. Lai Xuan Thanh, of the 79 students, only six have graduated and have commercial pilot licences. The others have not finished the courses.

"For the six graduates with a commercial pilot license, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam held a test of qualification but only one participated because the others were busy attending overseas training courses. They will be tested by a specialized council when they return home,” Thanh added.

The incident is not related to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam and the Ministry of Transport.

However, to help the victims of the scam, and because demand for pilots is great, Minister Dinh La Thang has asked Vietnam Airlines to assist students to continue studying at reputable institutions. He met with the families of the students last Friday.

"Vietnam Airlines may advance 50% of no-interest funding for students to continue learning, and commit to employ them after graduation. If the learning outcomes of the students do not meet the requirements, their families must return the investment to Vietnam Airlines," the Minister said.

Vietnam Airlines would support all Vietnamese students who attended the Ahart Institute to continue learning and recruit them after graduation if they meet the qualifications as required, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines Phan Xuan Duc said.

Every year, the national carrier needs an additional 100 pilots.

"Vietnam Airlines is willing to advance 50% of the tuition for students and will deduct it from their salary after they finish the course and work for Vietnam Airlines," Duc said.

With its experience, Vietnam Airlines will also help students find a reputable training facility.

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam said the agency had contacted the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Ahart’s training organization certificate was terminated in July 2013 for not reporting changes in infrastructure facilities.

Ahart had twice applied for a certificate from the FAA, but it was not granted as it had not reported a change of ownership and changes in infrastructure facilities. It had also not met provisions of aviation-safety regulations. The FAA suspended the operations of Ahart last October.

Le Ha