Garuda Indonesia to Operate Unmanned Cargo in 2020
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22 June 2019 13:09 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-run airliner Garuda Indonesia will commercially operate unmanned cargo aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in 2020. The company's director of cargo and business development Mohammad Iqbal said the unmanned plane will be focusing on supporting market potential and fish export transportation from the eastern part of Indonesia such as Maluku, Sulawesi, and Papua.
"We're focusing on Eastern Indonesia to export fish. The fishes will be transported from Dobo, Somlaki, to Ambon," he said to Tempo at his office in Soekarno-Hatta Internationa Airport complex, Friday, June 21.
Garuda is targetting to accelerate the trip of goods shipping through the procurement of the cargo aircraft. Iqbal viewed that it could deliver commodities outside of Java Island from one place to another in less than 24 hours.
The aircraft, which will be produced by PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), will be tested in the fourth quarter of this year; between September to December, and the operation is planned to be started at the beginning of 2020.
Iqbal said the company targets to own 100 UAV units until 2024. Garuda Indonesia collaborates with Beihang UAS technology Co. Ltd. with leasing scheme. The unmanned cargo will have various capacity; from 2.2 tons to 5 tons.
He is optimistic that the cargo aircraft could reach remote areas or borders due to its small and flexible design.
Currently, the operation of UAV is pending the regulation from the Transportation Ministry. Iqbal added that the company continues to coordinate with AirNav Indonesia to confirm the smooth air traffic.
Francisca Christy Rosana