Vietnam regulator proposes approval of Chinese COMAC jets, documents show

Vietnam's aviation regulator has proposed to recognise China's aircraft design certifications as equivalent to U.S. standards, facilitating the entry of jets from Chinese state-owned planemaker COMAC, according to documents seen by Reuters. COMAC has been intensifying its efforts to gain a market presence in Vietnam following meetings with the country's top leaders and enticing offers to its leading budget airline as part of a wider push to attract global buyers for its domestically-produced jets. But Vietnam is also attempting to reduce its trade surplus with the U.S. after President Donald Trump's announcement of reciprocal tariffs by confirming its intent to buy Boeing 737 MAX jets. "New aircraft like COMAC that are not yet certified by the FAA or EASA will encounter problems with current legal regulations when seeking to operate in Vietnam," according to a Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) document that referred to the U.S. and European aviation regulators. The CAAV has proposed to change the rules to allow for the import of Chinese-certified planes effective on April 30, according to a second document, though that would require a sign-off from Vietnam's top leaders.<br/>