Airlines responsible for refueling process

Airlines responsible for refueling process

Leony Aurora and Anissa S. Febrina, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While an investigation into the alleged adulteration of jet fuel
in Makassar continues, a minister declared on Wednesday that
airlines were also partly responsibility for any irregularities
during refueling.

"We will thoroughly investigate the safety aspects, but as
stipulated in the ministerial decree, operators are also
responsible for any problems during refueling," Minister of
Transportation Hatta Rajasa said on Wednesday.

After refueling, the airline, via its staff, had to give its
consent and approval -- meaning that the carrier was also
involved in the process.

He added that the ministry would begin its safety checks after
the police completed their own investigation. In the meantime,
the plane in question would be grounded for the duration of the
investigation.

Previously, Batavia Air filed a complaint with state oil and
gas firm Pertamina and the Ministry of Transportation alleging
that the fuel pumped into one of its aircraft at Makassar had
been mixed with water.

The case is currently being investigated by the South Sulawesi
Police, who declared four Pertamina employees working at the
airport's fueling station as suspects on Tuesday. The four have
now been arrested for failing to follow standard operational
procedures.

The ministry's director of air transportation, M. Iksan
Tatang, said that on paper all of the procedures had been
followed.

However, "We will evaluate whether Batavia had done its
maintenance properly. Negligence in the process will lead to the
grounding of its planes," Tatang said.

Commenting on the case, state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina
denied any wrongdoing, saying it had followed all the procedures,
including checking the condition and quality of the fuel before
it was pumped into the aircraft's fuel tank.

Pertamina trading and marketing director Ari Soemarno said the
company therefore objected to the arrests.

Ari explained that the complaint by Batavia was filed more
than 24 hours after refueling had been completed, just after
Pertamina had drained the tank, making it impossible for the
company to take another sample.

Batavia said that the sample it had taken from the aircraft's
tank revealed that it had a very high water content.

"For the time being, we will let the police carry on with
their investigation. We will not interfere. We will do ours
afterwards," Tatang said.