Airlines Asked to Assure the Correctness of Aircrafts’ Instruments
Wednesday, 26 March, 2008 | 14:40 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Transportation Minister, Jusman Syafii Djamal, confirmed about the recommendation from The National Flight Safety Commission (KNKT) about flight safety. “There are recommendations for the pilot to increase their capabilities in facing emergency situations,” he said in Jakarta yesterday.

The Director General for Air Transportation, Budhi Muliawan Suyitno, said the flight operator should assure the performance of the aircraft’s instruments. “The pilot depends on the the iinstruments and the technology of the aircraft,” he said.

The Adam Air aircraft that crashed in Sulawesi waters on 1 January 2007 has been the reason KNKT issued 11 recommendations for flight safety. It is necessary to prevent the same type of accident from happening again.

The recommendations are submitted to related institutions such as the Directorate General for Air Transportation; Adam Air; Transportation Minister; and PT Angkasa Pura I as the airport authority in the accident location.

“Out of 11 recommendations, eight are already implemented by the Directorate General for Air Transportation, Adam Air, and Angkasa Pura I,” said the head of KNKT, Tatang Kurniadi, in Jakarta, yesterday.

The recommendations have been issued since July 2007. At that time, a flight regulator is recommended to inspect Adam Air's maintenance, training, and procedures for pilots in emergency situations. KNKT also recommended repairing the navigation system.

On 8 October 2007, Tatang continued, KNKT issued more recommendations on the navigation system and asked the Directorate General for Air Transportation to check the inertia reference system (IRS) on planes, whether it works well, or not. “Operators are also recommended to check the IRS in their aircraft, whether it works optimally or not,” he said.

On 12 December 2007, KNKT again issued a recommendation. It is related to training for pilots dealing with dire conditions. It is also related to spatial disorientation that happens to pilots when facing dire conditions. This recommendation was submitted to the Directorate General for Air Transportation and Adam Air.

“Related airlines and regulators have been implementing the recommendations,” Tatang said. For example, Adam Air has improved their IRS and observed its maintenance. Since November 2007, they have also been in touch with its producer.

According to Tatang, since 23 November 2007, the Directorate General for Air Transportation has issued a safety circular for flight operators about specific action for deficiency, especially about IRS maintenance. “We also ask for continued analysis and observation for repeated damage that is followed by changing components,” he said.

DWI WIYANA | HARUN MAHBUB