BPPT plane-leasing

BPPT plane-leasing costs nation dear

From Kompas

When the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) was headed by Prof.Habibie, the agency, which had a central office at Jl.Thamrin, Jakarta, bought six brand-new CASA series-200 planes from the factory.

The six planes were originally provided for a project on artificially produced rain, but in fact the BPPT has so far used the planes for that project on only several occasions per year, and for that purpose the agency has also used chartered planes at very high cost.

Prof. Rahardi Ramelan was then appointed to chair the agency, replacing Habibie. Under Rahardi, BPPT leased out the six planes to a private company. The rate was at that time only US$90 per flying-hour, far below the normal rate of $1,300 per flying-hour.

Rahardi was then replaced by Prof. Zuhal, my classmate when I studied in Japan. When he asked my opinion about BPPT's CASA aircraft, I suggested that the planes be operated by the agency itself for the transport of personnel of the Strategic Industries Supervisory Agency (BPIS), who often made official journeys.

I also suggested the alternative of entrusting the operation of the six planes to the police as the police fixed-wing fleet was then badly in need of additional aircraft to cope with the frequent unrest in the country.

A series-200 CASA plane can carry one platoon of Mobile Brigade personnel, consisting of 30 fully armed policemen, to any location with an 800-meter-long airstrip.

However, Zuhal's proposal, based on my suggestion, was opposed by his subordinates, who were too preoccupied with making money by leasing out the aircraft for very little effort on their part.

GUNARDJO

Jakarta