INACA, CAAS agree to meet regularly

INACA, CAAS agree to meet regularly

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesia National Air Carrier Association
(INACA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) have
agreed to arrange regular discussions following a meeting on air
traffic control around the island republic and Batam Island.

CAAS announced here yesterday that the two parties also agreed
at the meeting held in Singapore on Thursday that regular
dialogs, expected to enhance mutual understanding, will
facilitate discussions on matters related to flight safety and
efficiency.

Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said last month
that Indonesia has taken over the air traffic control of the area
around Batam Island from Singapore.

This step was taken after INACA complained to members of the
Indonesian House of Representatives that many Indonesian
airplanes were frequently forced to fly in circles before being
allowed to land at Batam's airport just because there were so
many airplanes taking off from or landing at Singapore's Changi
airport at the same time.

Batam is 20 kilometers south of Singapore.

INACA also said that Singapore's flight authority had been
operating beyond the borders of its own airspace, causing more
costs for Indonesian air carriers.

Airplanes forced to circle for periods of up to 30 minutes
incurred extra expense for fuel.

The two countries reached an agreement that Indonesia would
take control of the airspace over the islands of Batam and Bintan
in Riau province by establishing a control facility at the
Tanjung Pinang terminal on April 28 1994. Since then Indonesia
has been controlling aircraft departures and arrivals on the two
islands.

CAAC provides services to 70 airlines flying in the region
strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, without
discrimination.

At Thursday's meeting, CAAC assured INACA that aviation
services are provided for all airlines landing at Changi and
Batam airports with safety and efficiency the criteria.

For that reason, CAAC clarified, aircraft might be redirected
due to bad weather or the need to ensure safe aircraft
separation, which is standard for all airports.

Indonesia has developed Batam as a special industrial and
tourist area. The island's Hang Nadim airport will be developed
into an international airport both for wide-body passenger and
cargo aircraft. (icn)