Does the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune have the authority to impose fines of up to 50 million VND in the aviation sector?

Reply:
According to Article 4 of Decree 17/2026/ND-CP (amending and supplementing Article 33 of Decree 162/2018/ND-CP), the authority of the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level to impose administrative penalties in the field of civil aviation has been significantly expanded.

Specifically, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune, ward, or special administrative region has the right to:

- A warning penalty;

- Fines of up to 50,000,000 VND;

- Revoking the license for a specified period or suspending operations for a specified period;

- Confiscation of evidence and means used in administrative violations;

- Implement corrective measures as prescribed by law.

Meanwhile, according to the previous regulations in Decree 162/2018/ND-CP, the maximum fine for the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level was only 5 million VND. Thus, the penalty has increased tenfold.

Decree 17/2026/ND-CP was issued on January 14, 2026 and came into effect on March 1, 2026.

Violations may be subject to penalties.

According to regulations on administrative penalties in the field of civil aviation, many actions in people's daily lives can be penalized if they affect flight safety. Some common actions include:

• Flying kites, balloons, flying objectswithin the airport area or surrounding area that may affect flight operations;
• Using laser beams, or high-powered lights.This affects the pilot's visibility during takeoff and landing.
• Burning straw, burning garbage, creating smoke.in areas that affect flight visibility;
• Allowing livestock and poultry to graze, and preventing pets from entering airport areas.;
• Construction and tree planting that violate aviation airspace limits.;
• Entering or exiting restricted areas at airports without permission.;
• Other acts that violate aviation safety and security regulations as stipulated by specialized regulations.

Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, individuals and organizations may be subject to penalties such as warnings, fines, confiscation of evidence, or revocation of licenses and temporary suspension of operations.

Increasing fines at the commune level helps detect and handle violations promptly at the grassroots level. People need to raise their awareness, especially in areas near airports or within flight safety corridors, to avoid violations and high fines.

PL.