BPPT plane-leasing costs nation dear<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
When the Agency for the Assessment and Application of
\nTechnology (BPPT) was headed by Prof.Habibie, the agency, which
\nhad a central office at Jl.Thamrin, Jakarta, bought six brand-new
\nCASA series-200 planes from the factory.<\/p>\n
The six planes were originally provided for a project on
\nartificially produced rain, but in fact the BPPT has so far used
\nthe planes for that project on only several occasions per year,
\nand for that purpose the agency has also used chartered planes at
\nvery high cost.<\/p>\n
Prof. Rahardi Ramelan was then appointed to chair the agency,
\nreplacing Habibie. Under Rahardi, BPPT leased out the six planes
\nto a private company. The rate was at that time only US$90 per
\nflying-hour, far below the normal rate of $1,300 per flying-hour.<\/p>\n
Rahardi was then replaced by Prof. Zuhal, my classmate when I
\nstudied in Japan. When he asked my opinion about BPPT's CASA
\naircraft, I suggested that the planes be operated by the agency
\nitself for the transport of personnel of the Strategic Industries
\nSupervisory Agency (BPIS), who often made official journeys.<\/p>\n
I also suggested the alternative of entrusting the operation
\nof the six planes to the police as the police fixed-wing fleet
\nwas then badly in need of additional aircraft to cope with the
\nfrequent unrest in the country.<\/p>\n
A series-200 CASA plane can carry one platoon of Mobile
\nBrigade personnel, consisting of 30 fully armed policemen, to any
\nlocation with an 800-meter-long airstrip.<\/p>\n
However, Zuhal's proposal, based on my suggestion, was opposed
\nby his subordinates, who were too preoccupied with making money
\nby leasing out the aircraft for very little effort on their part.<\/p>\n
GUNARDJO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bppt-plane-leasing-costs-nation-dear-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }