TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Air Force have banned C-130B Hercules from going airborne after the A-1310 incident in Medan, last Tuesday. Air Force Chief of Staff, Air Marshall Agus Supriatna, said that the decision is to avoid similar accident.
“We will investigate the cause of accident as these planes were made in 1964,” Agus told Tempo in Airforce Headquarter, Cilangkap, Jakarta.
The airforce are in possession of 24 units of Hercules type B and H, stored in Air Squadron 31 at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta, and Air Squadron 32 Abdurachman Saleh Airport, Malang. Out of the total fleet, only 11 units are ready for operational duty.
Prior to the Hercules incident, the Airforce have experienced a high number of incidents involving obsolete fleet. On March, the Airforce have released Hawk Mk53 from duty, given that the 35-year-old plane poses high risk to pilots.
Some other planes also succumbed to the same fate, namely F-5 Tiger and the infamous F-16 block 52ID.
Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu agreed to evaluating Airforce obsolete weapon system following Medan incident. Ryamizard said that the ministry is planning to purchase new planes in the next three years. However, he claimed that he cannot ensure the amount of budget allotted for the matter.
INDRA WIJAYA | REZA ADITYA | AGOENG WIJAYA
