VATM-IMSG: Concluding Workshop for the Aviation Weather Pilot Project

On June 9, 2026, at the Headquarters of Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM), VATM and IMSG Company (USA) jointly organized the Concluding Workshop for the Aviation Weather Pilot Project in Vietnam – a technical assistance project funded by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

The workshop was attended by representatives from USTDA, the U.S. Commercial Service in Vietnam, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Vietnamese airlines, and relevant agencies and organizations including the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration and the University of Science – Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Vice President Ngo The Vinh chaired the working session on behalf of VATM alongside participating departments and units. The IMSG delegation was led by Ms. Imelda Martin, CEO and President of IMSG, accompanied by a group of experts and IMSG's subcontractors in Vietnam and the United States. 

The Aviation Weather Pilot Project in Vietnam was launched in May 2024 at VATM Headquarters. The core component of the project was the establishment of a Numerical Weather Prediction system using a trial version of eIAWS® (Enterprise Integrated Aviation Weather System). The system utilized global model data as inputs while integrating locally available observational data in Vietnam (surface weather observations, weather radar, satellite cloud imagery, etc.) through data assimilation (DA) to enhance forecast accuracy. The trial version of eIAWS® was installed and underwent a 6-month trial operation and evaluation period. 

The project concluding workshop formed part of the agreed scope of work between VATM and IMSG. The event was organized for the parties to present and discuss the project's achieved results, the operational capabilities of the system, and potential future deployment roadmaps for the eIAWS® system.

Delivering the opening remarks at the workshop, Vice President Ngo The Vinh shared: “Along with the strong and continuous increase in air traffic volume, the climate change process with frequent, high-frequency, and unpredictable extreme weather phenomena poses numerous challenges to the provision of aviation meteorological services in particular and air navigation services in general. This requires VATM to implement comprehensive solutions across all fronts, such as stepping up research and development; bolstering technological and technical infrastructure; improving human resource quality; enhancing service supply chain management efficiency; and strengthening international cooperation.”

With funding from USTDA and support and cooperation from IMSG, VATM's operational team had the opportunity to experience and gain hands-on operational practice with the enterprise integrated aviation weather system (eIAWS®) featuring advanced numerical prediction models researched and developed by IMSG scientists. During the trial period, VATM and IMSG collaborated closely, promptly updating feedback from the operational staff. 

At the Workshop, IMSG experts led by Dr. James Spinks, Chief Researcher and Project Lead, presented an overview of the project implementation process, achieved results, and key case studies collected during VATM's trial operation of the eIAWS® system. Representatives from VATM's Aviation Meteorological Center (AMC) and Air Traffic Flow Management Center (ATFMC) also delivered summary presentations evaluating the post-trial period from both meteorological and operational perspectives.

The close coordination between both parties throughout project implementation brought mutual value, adhering to the principle of win-win cooperation. For VATM, benefits encompassed technical expertise, operational insights, and team training. For IMSG, implementing the pilot project provided real-world data to validate research results, thereby continuing to refine and further elevate eIAWS® system capabilities. Alongside direct coordination between VATM and IMSG, active cooperation from stakeholders during implementation served as a vital factor in driving project efficiency. 

On behalf of IMSG, Ms. Imelda Martin, CEO and President of IMSG, expressed high appreciation for USTDA's technical assistance and the coordination and support from stakeholders during project implementation. IMSG leadership and project team extended special thanks for the continuous and tight collaboration from VATM's project team, expressing hope that following the completion of USTDA's technical support, both sides will identify long-term cooperation opportunities.

Beyond operational and technical value, the collaboration between VATM and IMSG through the USTDA-funded aviation weather pilot project in Vietnam made a positive contribution to strengthening cooperative ties between Vietnamese and U.S. enterprises, adding meaningful value to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

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Source: VATM-IMSG: Concluding Workshop for the Aviation Weather Pilot Project

In this project, ISCALE Company, as the local partner of IMSG, supported the project in the following activities: 

• Acting as IMSG's point of contact in Vietnam
• Collecting data and assessing infrastructure and data readiness for aviation weather forecasting at VATM
• Discussing the transition process from the pilot system to the operational system
• Collaborating with IMSG experts to customize and optimize the eIAWS® system for VATM 
• Taking charge of deploying the HPC infrastructure to operate the eIAWS® system in Vietnam 
• Participating in the design of the next-generation high-resolution aviation weather forecasting system for VATM