End is nigh for EU flight ban: Govt

The Transportation Ministry is optimistic that the European Commission will in June lift a ban preventing Indonesian aircraft from entering European airspace and clouding the Indonesia’s aviation services since 2007.

In 2007, the Commission had banned all Indonesian airlines from flying to Europe because of distrust resulting from Indonesia’s poor aviation safety record.

“We have received a letter from the European Commission conveying a positive response in relation to the lifting [of the ban] on May 18,” the ministry’s directorate general, Harry Bhakti, said Friday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

The letter, he said, was a reply to a long distance conversation between the ministry and the commission, regarding the findings of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The ministry stated that the remaining six requirements stipulated by the ICAO had been fulfilled. The ICAO, however, had yet to inspect first-hand three of the six points, covering aspects of carrier’s operation and supervision, and the installation of flight safety equipment.

“[ICAO] plans to conduct its inspections here on June 15,” Harry said.

The three other points already approved by the ICAO cover licensing, the addition of inspectors and the establishment of a National Air Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT).

“So, we have complied with their requests,” Harry said.

The results of Indonesia’s work to improve its air safety systems will be presented to a European Commission Conference to be held in Brussels, Belgium, in late June. (adh)