To step up services and
anticipate growing number of users of air transportation, expansion of airports
and infra structure was needed. Today, of the 25 commercial airport run by PT
Angkasa Pura I, nearly all of them were having over capacity and needed
expansion in order to serve well.
It seemed reasonable that the Government allowed
opportunity for the third party to participate in airport development projects.
Airports which were of commercial value were better be offered to private
operators so the Government could concentrate more on managing airports of less
commercial value to open access to isolated regions.
For that matter it was best for the Government to
evaluate which airport should collaborate with private operators and which
airport should be privatized. The Government’s policy was worthy of
appreciation because it was a notable breakthrough.
As know, infra-structure building for example were the
important factor supportive to economic development. Inter-regional,
inter-provincial or inter insular connectivity would be cheaper with frequent
airlinks and professionally managed airports by private operations or new
airport run by the Government.
Very frequently word was out that the Soekarno Hatta
airport in Cengkareng, Banten was overcrowded and might endanger air traffic.
This was because the Soetta airport was the center of air traffic for arrivals
as well as departures. If other airports in the regions were renovated and
upgraded it would be supportive to air traffic and passengers handling at
Soetta airport.
What’s more, if airport which served as points of
destination for tourists or other potential airports in the regions were
upgraded, it might lessen passengers’ flow to Soetta airport. Today many
foreign and local tourists were concentrated in Jakarta because of the better
airport and letter access to tourist objects.
Yogyakarta, Denpasar, Balikpapan, Banjarmasin, and Manado
with all the panoramic tourist attractions had the potential to drum up more
tourists if the airport were modernized. If necessary the Government could be
engaged with the private sector in project investments based on build, operate
and transfer (BOT) concept.
The private companies who modernized the airport might be
given the concession to manage the airport over a certain period, for example
25 years. In the affirmative case the public would be happy with airport
facilities and services. Broadly speaking airports run by the private sector
tend to be better than being managed by the Government.
Today the number of airport in Indonesia was posted at
223, consisting 25 airports managed by BUMN, i.e. 13 airport run by PT Angkasa
Pura 1 and 12 airport run by Angkasa II and one airport run by PT Freeport
Indonesia; the rest were under the supervision of the Directorate General of
Air Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation.
As whole the physical condition of airport in Indonesia
were varied. Some were adequate and in accordance with international standard
so they deserved to be called international airport but some airport were in
poor condition as they were not properly maintained.
The disheartening thing was that some airports were too
closely located to people’s settlements of office buildings which might
endanger the people and airlines. A condition as such made it difficult for
pilots to make maneuvers or smooth and safe landing.
It seemed reasonable that some cities like Medan and
Yogyakarta planned to relocate their airports to some better spots; a proposal
as such needed support whereby to create a safe and comfortable mode of
transportation.
Again the government was engaged in collaboration with
the private sector in managing airport for the future. To avoid future polemics,
it would be better for the Government cq the Ministry of Transportation to
communicate with the Parliament to appoint the private sector as developer and
operator of commercial airports.
Beside better airport to be managed by private operators considering
the vast development of airline business and the future application of ASEAN
OPEN SKIES 2015 and ASEAN SINGLE FLIGHT 2020, Indonesia would need 4,000
pilots, 7,500 technicians and 1,000 air controllers.
To meet those challenges the Association of Indonesia Air
Regulators (INACA) in collaboration with the Human Resources Development
Agency, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Communication
and Transportation held the first international convention with focus on
training of air personnel for Indonesia needs.
Today school of aviation were growing fast in Indonesia
in tandem with operation of new aircrafts around 8% per year. Still schools of
aviation in Indonesia were unable to keep up with the growing demand in this
sector.
Indonesia with a population of 240 million only had 13
schools of aviation compared to other countries which were just as populous as
Indonesia. for example the USA who had 1,076 aviation schools and Uni Europe
having 369 schools.
To keep up with the exploding demand for pilots, if the
national schools of aviation were not able to meet the need, collaboration
could be run between local schools and foreign schools. Pilot candidates had
been sent overseas to study flying techniques.
Other pragmatic way was to employ foreign pilots who were
experienced to work with national airlines. Local airlines employing foreign
pilots were commonplace, and other countries were doing the same, and in many
cases Indonesian pilots worked for foreign airlines.
The conclusion was that development of airports
undertaken by the third party and employment of qualified pilots became an
urgent matter as homework for the Government so the national airline industry
might grow sustainably.
Business News - July 6, 2012
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