Navigation System Error, Garuda Indonesia Flights Rerouted
4 March 2014 01:16 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The navigation system of Abdulrachman Saleh Airport has been damaged since last Friday. The Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) which guides the plane's distance with the runway is currently under repairs, said Head of the Technical Unit of Abdulrachman Saleh Airport, Suharno, causing flights of Garuda Indonesia to be diverted from Juanda International Airport Surabaya.
According to Suharno, the navigation system belonged to the Air Force. Other than used by fighter planes, the system is also used by civilian aircrafts which serve commercial flights from Abdulrachman Saleh Airport.
Despite the device being broken, airport authorities did not shut down the airports. A number of airlines still fly to the airport. Only Garuda Indonesia does not fly from the airport.
General Manager of Garuda Indonesia Malang, Agung Prabowo, said the flight to Malang has been rerouted to Surabaya for safety reasons. Garuda's priority is the safety of their passengers. "If the navigation system is damaged, it could be hazardous," he said.
EKO WIDIANTO