Aviation school turns back students

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