TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Flight Navigation Service Organizer Body (LPPNPI), also known as AirNav Indonesia, is prepared to disburse funds for improving flight navigation devices in the archipelago. In 2016, AirNav will invest Rp2.2 trillion in roughly 273 pioneer and major airports operated by PT Angkasa Pura I and II, as well as Transportation Ministry.
“The Rp2.2 trillion investment will be [made] for device maintenance and system upgrade in airports throughout Indonesia,” said President Director of AirNav Indonesia Bambang Tjahjono on the sidelines of AirNav Indonesia National Meeting VI at Grand Mercure Hotel Surabaya, Wednesday, April 6, 2016.
Bambang said that the allocation for each airport will be adjusted with its respective needs. High-traffic airports will be given more priority compared to small scale airports. “Major airports will be provided with more advanced devices. Small airports with weekly flights will be provided with communication devices only,” he said.
For example, he said, Soekarno-Hatta airport Cengkareng which he considered is in urgent need of improvement in capacity and device. The airport sees 1,200 movements or 600 flights on a daily basis.
Even outside of the Rp2.2 trillion investment, the busiest airport in Indonesia is being run on a budget of roughly US$1 million. “Excluding Rp2.22 trillion budget, as their [transition to] automatic system needs one year [to complete],” Bambang said.
To boost the improvement, AirNav Indonesia will need an additional 200 air traffic control (ATC) experts. The human capital is planned to be recruited to be assigned at Papua airports. “We will prioritse assignment there [Papua], also important is Tanjung Pinang to support upper Natuna.”
Bambang added, Indonesian flight industry has been having difficulties in recruiting new ATC experts. The recruitment through Indonesia Flight School (STPI) and Indonesia Flight Academy (ATPI) is deemed inadeqate. “We are currently cooperating with Border Security Force (BSF) particularly in Papua region to hold training courses,” he said.
The training is funded by the government to train local personnel. Personnel graduated from the training courses are expected to be assigned at local airports. “We still need around 500 ATC experts. We currently have around 1,400 personnel from AirNav Indonesia and 700 personnel from the Air Force."
ARTIKA RACHMI FARMITA
