To prevent
future licensing problems, route clearance and permits will now be processed
online
Jakarta Globe, Thresa Sandra, Jan 09, 2015
 |
| Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan, sitting, talks with journalists before releasing results of flight permit violations, at the ministry’s offices in Jakarta on Jan. 9, 2015. (Antara Photo/Puspa Perwitasari) |
Jakarta.
The Transportation Ministry on Friday suspended 61 domestic flight routes
operated by five Indonesian airlines following a week-long investigation
prompted by an alleged permit violation involving the crashed Indonesia AirAsia
flight.
The
ministry earlier banned Indonesia AirAsia from operating between Surabaya and
Singapore, saying that the company did not have a permit to fly the route on
the Sunday, the day of Flight 8501’s crash.
Although
the ministry did not explicitly link the permit to the crash, the discovery
prompted an investigation into the prevalence of the practice in Indonesia’s
aviation industry.
“We
conducted an evaluation and audit. The result is that we found unlicensed
flights on 61 [routes],” Minister Ignasius Jonan said during a press conference
on Friday, without elaborating on the time period during which violations were
found to have occurred.
Jonan said
budget carrier Lion Air was the worst offender, with permit violations on 35 of
their routes.
Second is
Wings Air with 18, flag carrier Garuda Indonesia with four, chartered flight
operator Susi Air with three and one for Transnusa.
The figure
does not include the incident AirAsia route, the permit for which the transport
ministry suspended last week.
“The five
carriers will be sanctioned in the form of a suspension of the unlicensed
flight [routes],” the minister said.
The
carriers will be required to reapply for the necessary licenses if they want to
resume service.
Jonan said
the scandal is prompting a major overhaul within the ministry.
At least 10
top-ranking officials, including three directors, will be reassigned and a
principal aviation inspector has already been suspended from active duty.
“The
government felt that a lot of restructuring is needed [to address the issue],”
he said.
Similar
restructuring will also occur inside airport operator Angkasa Pura and air
traffic controller AirNav.
After
permit scandal was discovered, Angkasa Pura reassigned two officials; AirNav
reassigned four.
“I’ve
instructed the Air Transportation Directorate General to increase supervision
to ensure regulations are followed,” Ignasius said, adding that he is also
planning to impose tighter regulations.
“Two months
ago we began conducting a regulatory overhaul in all sectors. But because of
this crash, air transportation will be given more [focus],” he said.
To prevent
future licensing problems, Jonan said route clearance and permits will now be
processed online.
“This month
[the online system] will be in place,” the minister said.
AirAsia
Flight 8501 crashed on Dec. 28 amid stormy weather as it flew from Surabaya to
Singapore, claiming the lives of all 162 people on board.
The
Indonesian meteorological agency has said weather was the “triggering factor,”
with ice likely damaging the engines of the Airbus A320-200.
Before
take-off, the plane’s pilot, Captain Iriyanto, had asked for permission to fly
at a higher altitude to avoid a major storm.
The request
was not approved due to other planes above him on the popular route, according
to AirNav, Indonesia’s air traffic control.
Additional reporting from Reuters
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