An A to Z of Indonesian civil aviation: A reflection

This explains why he was confident in permitting the plane’s 6,000 feet descent. From these findings, we might justify that the human error (the controller) was not only the root cause of the crash but also the ATC management, in this case the Jakarta Approach. I might say this reflects how careless the ATC was. It is evidence that we are lacking in human resources personnel as well as a sophisticated ATC system support.

The radar blackout in Soekarno-Hatta Airport and the ATC failures as stated in the National Commission for Aviation Safety (KNKT) investigation’s findings, represent how Indonesia manages the aviation industries in general. Aside from separating ATC management from Angkasa Pura, there are other problems that beg solution.

As stated in the Aviation Law, the KNKT should be separated from the Transportation Ministry with regards to the independence and objectivity of the investigation. The next step is to establish an Aviation Profession Council (MPP), which has the responsibility to follow up on the KNKT findings.

In spite of that, the speedy development of air transportation in Indonesia has contributed to the increase in need for aircraft. For those who are familiar with the aviation industry, it could be correlated with other sectors such as the aircraft maintenance standard. For those who are not, it would be out of their line of sight: Leading to poor human resources management.

There are significant differences between aircraft procurement — including aircraft assembly and maintenance — and human resources management (pilots, cabin crew and engineers).

The former is relatively simple. We just need to either buy or rent more aircraft from manufacturers. On the other hand, training pilots, cabin crew and engineers is an arduous process.

Standardization, supervision and a reward-and-punishment system must be upheld within the regulations. Otherwise, we will remain a country that lacks the capability to organize its national civil aviation industries according to the international aviation safety standard.

Raising the question: What will 2013 look like?

Chappy Hakim, Jakarta | Opinion | Fri, January 04 2013, 9:07 AM
Jakpost, Paper Edition | Page: 7
The writer headed the National Team for the Evaluation of Transportation Safety and Security in 2007.