Aviation school turns back students

The Indonesian State Aviation School (STPI) at the Flight Training Center (PLP) in Curug, Tangerang regency, Banten, has closed its doors to new students for the third consecutive year this year.

"We do not receive enough from the state budget to cover the operational expenses of the school ... We're currently only teaching the existing 20-strong members of class 2002. They are expected to graduate next year," STPI spokesman Sihono said on Saturday.

He further explained that STPI, which is under the auspices of the Ministry of Transportation, offers four majors such as aircraft technology, airport navigation, airport building maintenance, as well as airport runway supervision.

According to Sihono, the cost of providing facilities for an aviation student for the four-year course was Rp 400 million.

When the central government cut the budget to finance the school in 2003, the management decided to store its 46 training aircraft which are still in a good condition in the hangar at Budiarto air base.

STPI was established in 1952 and was once the largest aviation school in Southeast Asia. The school, so far, has seen 3,000 pilots graduate.

"We currently only operating 15 training aircraft to be used by the 20 students," Sihono said.

In an effort to assist the school, Tangerang regent Ismet Iskandar has plans to transform Budiarto air base into a commercial airport.

"We are also looking for a good location to build a haj dormitory for the Banten provincial administration. The air base is strategic enough for us to build a commercial airport and the haj dormitory where we can accommodate haj pilgrims," he said. -- JP