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)