Do Air Traffic Controller Staffers Take Bribes?

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The job of an air traffic controller (ATC) is extremely significant, in terms of manning aircrafts in the air, monitoring their safe return and departure at all times and in the efficient use of aviation turbine fuel, or avtur. At really busy airports like London Heathrow or Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, dozens of flights land or take off within a single hour. In Soekarno-Hatta for instance, the more planes there are, the longer the queue for departure or landing and the more avtur is burned off due to the long wait. This will of course cause airline companies to bear the burden of avtur costs. It is therefore possible that ATC staffers could consider taking advantage of these conditions for their own benefit by selling off favourable spots in the long queue, for instance. This is certainly against the ATC's work ethic and principles, which is to serve the aircraft that arrives first. Exceptions are allowed only during emergencies, ideally. However, such principles, it is suspected, do not apply for ATC staffers at Soekarno Hatta, according to a number of top airline company officials who spoke to Tempo on condition of anonymity. They have complained that a number of airlines that come in late often get served first, and served better. A private local airline manager said that each month he has to hand over an ATC officer more than 30 flight tickets so that their flights are not put in the back of the waiting line. Landing early after all, means saving avtur. Prices of airline tickets are insignificant compared to the price of avtur. "Once a group of ATC officers held a presentation. They said they were able to help our airline company save avtur," said this manager. The Association President I. Gusti Ketut Susila has denied this. "Show us who has received them [bribes of airline tickets]? We'll surely take action against [them]," he said.PRAMONO | BAGJA HIDAYAT