Indonesia has to improve its regulatory and safety monitoring systems if it wants a ban on flying in European skies lifted, the European Union has said.
A day earlier, the European Commission (EC) unanimously extended the ban on Indonesian airlines from flying to the region on the grounds the air transportation authorities' oversight system is inadequate.
The ban was first imposed in July last year.
"The message to Indonesian authorities is to please take the corrective measures in such a way that you address the findings which have been made by the ICAO," Pierre Philippe, charge d'affaires of the EC delegation to Indonesia, said Friday.
The ICAO, or the International Civil Aviation Organization, has questioned the nation's air transportation safety system, in particular the lack of aircraft surveillance activities and inspectors.
"It's really in the hands of the government to move fast. It doesn't depend on us," Philippe said.
Jean-Pierre Ambrosini, an EU aviation expert, said Indonesia had around 30 inspectors to oversee more than 50 airlines and hundreds of airports across the country.
"You check normally each aircraft two times per year minimum, but it's impossible here," Ambrosini said, as reported by Reuters.
"You check one aircraft every two years, every three years."
No Indonesian carriers currently fly to Europe, but analysts said the ban would prove costly for the tourism industry here as Europeans have been warned not to use Indonesian airlines on transit routes, such as between Jakarta and Bali.
The government, while disappointed with the decision to extend the ban, said it would try to comply with the standard set by the EC.
As one measure, the government is in the process of amending the 1992 air transportation law. The draft of the revision is currently under deliberation by the House of Representatives Commission V overseeing transportation, public works and public housing.
Abdul Hakim, a member of the commission, said the committee was proposing to form an independent regulatory body that would be responsible for supervising all flight activities.
"Some of the committee members consider it essential to form an independent body to improve the efficiency of the flight system currently handled by the Air Safety Certification Directorate (DSKU) at the Transportation Ministry," he said.
He said the proposed body would take over supervisory tasks from the DSKU, which would be responsible only for airline certification.
"The law, after being revised, will strictly regulate safety measures, including those for navigation equipment and the air traffic control system."
Meanwhile, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has reaffirmed he will not pay a visit to any European countries unless the European Union revokes the flight ban.
Yudhoyono will fly to Europe only by national airline Garuda Indonesia, Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal said at the presidential office on Friday.
"With or without the EU flight ban, Indonesian flight safety and security should always be improved. We are working hard on our programs," he said. (ewd)
