An open letter written by

Nguyễn Bá Duy
PT inspector, NDT
UAC Vietnam

Dear reader,

I am currently a non-destructive testing (NDT) inspector at UAC Vietnam. After nearly two years of working here, I have come to see this place as my second home. I’ve experienced many significant milestones in my life with this company. I’m always quietly grateful for this place, I cherish my current job, and I am proud of my company.

At the end of 2019, my wife and I moved to Da Nang to build our lives in this city. I waited for over a month to be hired for the NDT inspector position here. In the beginning, I felt immense pressure because every day I had to read a large amount of technical English documents. But thanks to the enthusiastic support of two engineers, I gradually adapted. This period also gave me the chance to become familiar with international standards and improve my English skills.

In early 2020, I was both working at the company and teaching extra classes in the evenings. Our team had five people at the time. Together, we supported the maintenance team in installing two non-destructive testing booths. Piece by piece, they were assembled. Each member of the team worked tirelessly. Every day, our clothes were covered in dust and adhesive. Thanks to that time, I learned how to drill, how to cut, and I came to appreciate every corner of the place I work at. At that time, I also had to wake up early every morning to study for my final university exams.

In mid-2020, I graduated from the University of Science. At that point, the Covid-19 pandemic was raging in Da Nang. Despite the widespread outbreak, our two inspection booths were finally completed, put into trial operation, and underwent several evaluations. Preparing for these evaluations felt like a Formula 1 race. In turn, we faced audits from the Quality Assurance department, from customers like Spirit and Boeing, and from accreditation bodies like Nadcap. These revealed shortcomings that helped us gradually improve our processes and skills as a team. Around this time, the company also completed phase 1 of its development.

At the end of 2020, a series of storms struck Central Vietnam, the most devastating being Typhoon No. 9. Despite these natural disasters, our team still successfully obtained all required certifications and began official operations. The qualification exam for Level 2 inspector was also approaching. Some people had come and gone, leaving just three inspectors to take the exam. We each faced three intense tests — general knowledge, specific knowledge, and practical. At the same time, the company’s order volume was increasing significantly.

At the beginning of 2021, my salary was raised slightly, so I stopped teaching and stayed at my rented room to care for my family. That Lunar New Year was the first time my small family celebrated in Da Nang amid the quiet brought by the ongoing pandemic. Having a stable job during that period was a great blessing for me. To ensure normal operations, the company implemented strict Covid-19 prevention measures in line with the 5K guidelines. The aviation industry in particular, and the world in general, was suffering greatly. But UAC stood strong. Montana Aerospace even successfully went public (IPO). In that moment, I was truly proud of the group, of the company, of my team, and of my own small family.

In mid-2021, a surge of orders came to the company, and the demands of my job grew more intense. Everyone in the company received a pay raise. We had barely begun to enjoy this good news when a Covid-19 case was detected within the company. Everyone had to be tested. Many employees had to go into centralized quarantine or isolate at the company. Production continued thanks to the earlier prevention efforts and swift response. I understood the emotions of employees like myself, who had gone through many ups and downs over the past two years. Every corner of the workplace and every colleague who worked beside me bore witness to our efforts — mine, my teammates’, and the entire company’s.

All of this is more than enough for me to consider UAC Vietnam my second home. I am thankful for the salary that has supported my small family through the pandemic. I value my profession, which has helped me grow every day. I am proud of this second family in the same way I am proud of my own.

And if you’re in a similar situation, I believe you’ll feel the same way:

We are one big
Montana Aerospace family

Postscript 2025:

I was truly moved reading this letter again. All those hardships were simply challenges to overcome. Now, I’m very happy with the new home I’ve built for my little family. My new colleagues are also wonderful — we’re a united team.

I hope that my second family, Montana Aerospace, continues to grow stronger and more prosperous every day.