Experts call Long Thanh Airport feasiblity study unbelievable Some experts said that the feasibility study of Long Thanh International Airport is unbelievable and must be re-checked to avoid waste. They are among voters who expressed their opposition to the airport project at a recent meeting with National Assembly deputies in HCM City.    Long Thanh International Airport planning  Former pilot Tu De, former deputy head of the Department of Operations of the Vietnamese People’s Army, said the figures in the study were unreliable because they were based on future demand. Dr. Nguyen Thien Tong, former head of the Aviation Engineering Department of the HCM City University of Technology, said the figure of flights to and from Tan Son Nhat International Airport between 2005 and 2013 used in the feasibility study are different from those from the HCM City Statistics Office. According to the office, over the past eight years, Tan Son Nhat International Airport has seen a fall in international flights and passengers, as well as goods. Meanwhile, the airport has reported a rise in the transport of goods and passengers. Based on the office’s statistics, it is forecast that Tan Son Nhat International Airport would serve 11.46 million passengers and 301,900 tonnes of goods by 2015. However, under the feasible study, the figures would be 18.82 million passengers and 458,005 tonnes of goods by the year. Tong noted that the figures have been exaggerated to make the study appear reasonable and to show an overload of Tan Son Nhat International Airport, making it necessity to build Long Thanh International Airport. He suggested that an independent agency check the figures to avoid waste in construction. Golf course project inside Tan Son Nhat Airport must be cancelled At the meeting, many voters disagreed over the lease of 157ha in Tan Son Nhat International Airport project to the construction of a golf course, meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport said at the same time that it lacks land to expand the airport.   Voters call on the cancellation of the golf course inside Tan Son Nhat Airport Voter Pham Huu Binh said if the airport land has left idle, and asked why it is not used for public purposes, but a golf course, which would include luxury apartments and restaurants, is to benefit investors. Voter Huynh Dang said, “Why would national defense land be used for a golf course? Is it just for the benefit of the wealthy? Normal citizens will not benefit from such services." One of voters’ biggest worry was that a considerable amount of pesticides for grass on the golf course would cause environmental problems. All voters proposed that the golf course project be cancelled. Vo Thi Dung, Deputy Head of the HCM City National Assembly Deputies Delegation, said she would report all voters’ opinions at the next National Assembly session. According to Le Quang Minh from the HCM City Department of Planning and Investment, the golf course project has not yet been granted an investment license, but, Tan Binh District People’s Committee, said the this 18-hole golf course is being built. Source: NLD