Indonesia Opens Permit for Foreign-Registered Aircraft to Tackle Forest and Land Fires
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation at the Ministry of Transportation is processing 35 special permits for the use of foreign-registered aircraft to support firefighting and disaster response operations for forest and land fires (karhutla) in Kalimantan. The special permits are part of support for operational needs in handling forest and land fires across several regions of Indonesia.
Aircraft that have obtained special permits may be repositioned to other locations requiring disaster response support, in accordance with Director General of Civil Aviation Decree No. KP. 9 of 2021 concerning Authorisation for the Operation of Foreign Aircraft. To support rapid response to forest and land fire conditions that can change at any time, operators need only submit notification to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation within 24 hours regarding such repositioning.
The policy is intended to provide operational flexibility so that air resources can be deployed immediately to areas in need, while still observing applicable aviation safety and security provisions. The Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations also carries out oversight and certification functions regarding airworthiness aspects, including any aircraft modifications required to support forest and land firefighting operations.
Once certification and technical requirements are met, flight operations become the responsibility of the operator in accordance with the provisions and authorisation in its Air Operator Certificate. The determination of aircraft placement locations and activities in handling forest and land fires is adjusted to disaster response needs and coordination with authorised parties, including BNPB/BPBD, regional governments, and other agencies or parties using or leasing the aircraft.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation ensures that regulatory and aviation safety aspects remain a priority. The deployment of aircraft to specific areas is adjusted to forest and land fire response needs and coordination with authorised parties on the ground.
In addition to facilitating special permits for foreign aircraft, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation also ensures the availability of required airspace to support firefighting activities and accurate, up-to-date flight information through coordination with Airnav Indonesia as the air navigation service provider, which issues information via Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
As of 20 August 2026, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation recorded three active NOTAMs related to forest and land fire response activities. These include NOTAM A3042/26 concerning airspace reservation for water bombing activities, NOTAM B0860/26 regarding airspace reservation for water bombing and air patrol activities in West Kalimantan, and NOTAM B0815/26 informing of the unavailability of Taxiway Alpha at Banjarmasin Airport due to water bombing aircraft activity.
In addition, there is one active NOTAM related to airport closure due to forest and land fire smoke, namely NOTAM C0977/26 informing of the temporary closure of Nabire Airport due to smoke from forest fires. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation continues to monitor flight operational conditions in areas affected by forest and land fires and coordinates with all stakeholders to ensure firefighting activities can proceed effectively while prioritising aviation safety, security and smooth operations.