RI to seize control over its airspace
RI to seize control over its airspace
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In a bid to take back full control of the country's airspace, the
government plans to gradually take charge of the management of
regional flight information, something that is currently partly
undertaken by neighboring countries.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday
that the country was capable of fulfilling the minimum
requirements needed to handle air traffic across the country.
"From the diplomatic side it is necessary to take charge of
these flight information regions," the minister said during a
press conference.
"We will do it gradually. If necessary, we will establish a
joint venture to manage air traffic with foreign parties as the
technology is no longer as difficult as it was before," he added.
Indonesia signed agreements with Malaysia and Singapore in
1994 under which the two neighbors agreed to assist the country
in providing flight information and ensuring the safety of
international air navigation within its airspace.
The agreements appointed Singapore to handle the information
for commercial flights from Aceh to Palembang, and Malaysia to
cover the airspace over Borneo island.
The agreements were signed between the Indonesian Ministry of
Transportation and its counterparts in the two neighboring
countries.
The main reasons for the agreements were the country's
inability to oversee the entire airspace of the archipelagic
state due to its poor technological capabilities.
Following the loss of the Sipadan-Ligitan islets to Malaysia
late last year, Indonesia decided to increase its capabilities in
monitoring the country's borders.
"Currently, several ministries and government institutions are
discussing the issue so that we can take full control of our
airspace," Hassan remarked.
Another agreement that will be reviewed by Jakarta is a
Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore allowing the
neighboring country to use Indonesian airspace over the Straits
of Malacca for military training.
The agreement was signed during former president Soeharto's
time in the 1980s between the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and
its Singaporean counterpart.
"We need to reconsider the MoU so that we retain full control
over our land, waters and airspace," the minister remarked.
Hassan assured the public that currently Indonesia had no
other territorial disputes with neighboring countries as most
border issues had been settled.