South Jakarta's First Bike Lane to Be Ready Next Month

Jakarta Globe, Dofa Fasila | April 26, 2011

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South Jakarta will have its first ever bicycle lane by the end of May — though it runs a mere 1.5 kilometers.

South Jakarta Mayor Syahrul Effendi said on Tuesday that a gubernatorial decree would be issued to provide the legal umbrella for the lane, which will run from the Ayodya Park to the Melawai commercial area.

"The physical work for the lane is not yet completed," he said, adding that about 40 percent of the work had already been done.

"It's been a bit slow because we have to work in the evenings so as not to hinder traffic during the day. What is important is that this lane would be inaugurated in May and can be used for cycling."

The mayor said the construction of the Rp 500 million, 1.6-meter wide bike lane was being financed by funds raised by the Indonesian Bicycling Committee.

Syahrul added that they would work to develop more bicycle lanes and try to have them interconnected.

Bike lanes, he said, were part of the city's regional zoning plan for 2010-2030.

The head of the South Jakarta zoning office, Gamal Sinurat, said they were looking at putting bicycle lanes under elevated highways, including under the Antasari-Blok M elevated highway and along the parts of the Eastern Flood Canal that runs through the municipality.

Biking enthusiasts and advocates have long campaigned for the creation of dedicated bicycle lanes in Jakarta. Toto Sugito, chairm an of Jakarta’s Bike to Work (B2W) cycling community, says the administration lacked the political will to make the city friendlier for those not using motor vehicles.

EU lifts flight ban of 4 RI cargo airlines

Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Fri, 04/22/2011

Four Indonesian cargo airlines have been removed from the list of airlines banned from entering the European fly zone, after a meeting of the European Union (EU)’s Air Safety Committee on Apr. 5-7.

The ban removal was outlined in the Official Journal of the European Union as the EU released its latest update of the “List of airlines banned within the EU” on Thursday.

“This update removes the previous ban on the operations of four Indonesian all cargo air carriers – Cardig Air, Republic Express, Asia Link and Air Maleo,” the European Commission says in a press statement published on its website, http://ec.europa.eu.

“This is due to solid enforcement action taken by the Indonesian authorities to ensure that their operations are safe,” it adds.

The commission further explained in the official journal that the removal of the ban came after its video conference with the Indonesian authorities on March 11, during which the latter informed that all air carriers in Indonesia, with the exception of Wing Air, had undergone re-certification.

The Indonesian directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) also informed the commission that only 9% of the aircraft operating in Indonesia had yet to be fitted with the required International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) equipment.

“The DGCA [also informed that it] had issued an exemption permitting operations until the end of 2011 and that aircraft not fitted after this date would be grounded.

“The Air Safety Committee takes note of these developments and encourages the competent authorities of Indonesia to continue their efforts to enhance the oversight of air carriers under their regulatory responsibility,” the journal says.

A total of 10 Indonesian airlines have thus far been removed from the EU flight ban list, including Garuda Indonesia, Airfast Indonesia, Mandala Airlines, Ekspres Transportasi Antarbenua, Indonesia Air Asia and Metro Batavia.

Electric Vehicles Hold Promise of Bluer Skies for Manila (ADB)

Asian Development Bank, 13 April 2011

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III today transferred 20 Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded electric tricycles (e-trikes) to the City of Mandaluyong, marking an important first step towards a sustainable, energy-efficient transport model for the country.

Emissions from the transport sector currently represent 30% of all pollution in the country, and approximately 80% of air pollution in Metro Manila. A sizeable proportion of vehicle emissions are attributable to inefficient public transport, particularly from tricycles, jeepneys and buses.

The 20 e-trikes are part of an ADB-funded project to introduce energy-efficient transportation alternatives in the Philippines. ADB is currently in discussions with the government and other development partners on a proposed project to significantly scale up the rollout of energy efficient e-trikes in Manila and other urban areas as early as 2012.

"Working together, we can give Manila cleaner air, bluer skies, and a more livable environment," said Kunio Senga, Director General of ADB's Southeast Asia Department. "The Philippines is assuming a leading role in Asia in supporting green transportation alternatives, and if e-trikes are followed by new fleets of electric buses and jeepneys, the effect could be transformative."

Over 3.5 million motorized tricycles are currently operating in the Philippines, producing more than 10 million tons of carbon dioxide and using close to $5 billion of imported fuel each year. Motorized tricycles - which are motorcycles with sidecars - are popularly used as low-cost public transport for short distances.

"Every 20,000 e-trikes that are introduced to Manila's streets will save the Philippines 100,000 liters of foreign fuel imports each day, saving the country about $35 million annually," said ADB's Principal Energy Specialist Sohail Hasnie. "This initiative not only benefits the environment, but it also supports the Philippines drive to become more energy independent."

Though the new e-trikes have higher up-front costs, older petrol tricycles are more than twice as expensive to operate and maintain in the long run. The cost savings will directly increase the incomes of e-trike operators.

The new ADB-supported e-trikes use lithium ion batteries, commonly used in laptop computers and mobile phones. The batteries can be recharged approximately 2,000 times, in contrast to lead acid batteries used in older e-trike models that need to be replaced every two years.

A recently concluded phase-one ADB pilot project demonstrated that the Philippines has the local manufacturing capacity and technical skills base to build and maintain a large e-trike fleet. Once thousands of e-trikes begin to be manufactured, many new jobs could be created.

Factoring in electricity required for charging the batteries, the e-trikes' carbon footprint will be less than one quarter of petroleum-fueled tricycles' carbon dioxide emissions.

As part of the pilot project, ADB will install four charging stations in Mandaluyong City, which will be able to charge the e-trike batteries to 50% capacity in less than 30 minutes. One of the charging stations will use solar energy.

About ADB

United States Companies Eye Railways, Airports in Indonesia: Official

Jakarta Globe, April 04, 2011

United States firms are eying investments in Indonesian infrastructure
such as railways and airports but are concerned about graft and a lack of
protection of intellectual property rights, the US under secretary of
commerce said on Monday. (Reuters Photo)

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United States firms are eying investments in Indonesian infrastructure such as railways and airports but are concerned about graft and a lack of protection of intellectual property rights, the US under secretary of commerce said on Monday.

Under President Barack Obama, the United States is trying to improve ties with the world’s most populous Muslim country, including through investment and by boosting bilateral trade of $23 billion a year, which is two thirds of Indonesia’s trade with China.

“We have some American companies that are interested in supporting Indonesian transportation infrastructure needs, particularly in the railway system,” Francisco Sanchez said in an interview with Reuters.

He declined to identify the companies.

Indonesia’s government plans next week to offer investors $32 billion worth of infrastructure projects, including a railway, toll road and power plant, as Southeast Asia’s largest economy struggles to fund an overhaul of its transportation network.

Inadequate infrastructure is seen as both an investment opportunity and an obstacle to growth, and was cited by Fitch Ratings last month as a key risk to the chances of the country winning an investment grade rating in the next 12-18 months.

Other sectors US investors are interested in are health care, agriculture and green energy, said Sanchez, in Jakarta to explore closer commercial ties.

Indonesia opened up health care for foreign investment last year, and is looking to boost food security and expand geothermal power, where U.S. energy major Chevron is already an investor.

Foreign direct investment has picked up in Indonesia in the past year, but there has been far more investment from Asia than from US or European firms, with Japan having pledged more than $50 billion in infrastructure investment.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang has vowed to tackle corruption, a concern for many investors, though progress appears to have stalled.

Sanchez said further reforms on transparency were needed to attract more investment.

“Corruption, protection of intellectual property rights and overall transparency, all of these will have more long-term impact and positive impact on the Indonesian economy,” he said, adding businesses also wanted an opportunity to have a say on proposed regulations and laws.

Policy flip-flops have been a major concern for investors, particularly in the resources sector with rules aimed at reducing foreign ownership or involvement.

ExxonMobil has been in protracted negotiations over gas fields, while Indonesian regional authorities are competing with the national government to grab a stake in a nickel mine operated by US miner Newmont.

Reuters

Large hole discovered after Southwest flight makes emergency landing

CNN News, By the CNN Wire Staff,April 2, 2011

A 3-foot hole formed in the fuselage of Southwest Airlines Flight 813
on Friday.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Passengers arrive in Sacramento, California, on a second plane
• A 3- to 4-foot hole is discovered in a plane's fuselage
• FAA: The captain made a rapid descent from 36,000 feet to 11,000 feet
• A passenger commends airline personnel for their control of the situation

(CNN) -- A Southwest Airlines flight landed safely at a military base in Yuma, Arizona, on Friday with what passengers described as a 3-foot hole in the fuselage of the Boeing 737.

"I heard a loud popping sound about three or four minutes before it blew open on us," passenger Greg Hansen told CNN.

"(Then) a big explosion happened. A big noise, and from there, you felt some of the air being sucked out. It happened right behind me, in the row behind me and it covers about two and a half rows," he said from seat 11C.

Hansen, 41, a regional sales manager for a biotech company, was flying home to Sacramento, California, from a business trip. Some people panicked and screamed as the blue sky and sun began to shine through the cabin in mid-flight, he said.

"Most people were just white knuckles holding onto the arm rests. The pilots did a great job and were under control to get us to a manageable level," he said.

But just behind him, Hansen said he could see the jagged edge of the aircraft where the rivets used to be.

"You can see the insulation and wiring. The interior ceiling panel was bouncing up and down with the air," he said.

"It was surreal, when you're riding in a modern aircraft. You're used to being enclosed and not having the window rolled down," he said.

Hansen described the hole as being about 3 or 4 feet long and about a foot wide.

Passenger Brenda Reese told CNN affiliates KCRA and KOVR she began to fear for her life.

"I was texting my sister to make certain that she told my kids that I loved them," Reese said.

Southwest Flight 812 made an emergency landing at Yuma Marine Corps Air Station/International Airport at 7:07 p.m. ET.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the captain made a rapid, controlled descent from 36,000 to about 11,000 feet after the cabin lost pressure.

"We do not know the cause of the decompression," said Ian Gregor of the FAA.

Hansen said the incident took place about 35 minutes into the flight. He says that it took about 45 seconds or a minute before the oxygen masks came down after the hole blew open.

"The crew was pretty calm about it. They walked around and checked on everyone," he said. "But it wasn't like the movies where papers get sucked out of the hole, but you could feel it and hear the noise."

One of the passengers told KOVR that the incident occurred shortly after flight attendants took drink orders.

"There was a hole in the fuselage about 3 feet long," said the passenger, identified only as Cindy. "You could see the insulation and the wiring. You could see a tear the length of one of the ceiling panels."

Southwest said in a statement that the flight crew "discovered a hole in the top of the aircraft."

Hansen said that most of the passengers were complaining of a pain in their eardrums from a rapid descent.

Southwest Airlines said only one injury was reported.

RELATED TOPICS

• Air Travel
• Southwest Airlines Inc

"There are no reported customer injuries," according to a statement released by the airline. "One of the flight attendants, however, received a minor injury upon descent."

Hansen said one male flight attendant appeared to fall and was bleeding from a facial injury.

Yuma International Airport spokeswoman Gen Grosse said passengers were tended to and given refreshments because the temperature on the tarmac was close to 100 degrees.

Hansen said passengers deplaned and boarded another Southwest Airlines plane for Sacramento. He said the airline offered passengers accommodations in Yuma, but did not know if any passengers chose to stay.

The second flight landed in Sacramento on Friday night.

But one passenger, Debbie Downey, opted to take a small Cessna aircraft back to the Phoenix area.

"Just wanted a change of scenery," said Downey, who was traveling with her husband. "My uncle is a retired pilot with Northwest Airlines and offered to come get us in his Cessna 182."

In a written statement, Boeing spokeswoman Julie O'Donnell declined to comment on possible causes of the incident.

"Boeing is dedicated to the safety of its airplanes and the people who fly on them," O'Donnell said. "We are providing technical assistance to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board as it investigates the incident.

In accordance with international convention, we cannot speculate on either the cause or whether this incident is similar to or different from anything in the past; any questions about the investigation must be directed to the NTSB."

The NTSB said an investigative team will arrive in Yuma on Saturday.

CNN's John Branch, Rich Phillips, Deborah Doft and Greg Morrison contributed to this report.

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