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Lion Air moves to upgrade flight safety standards
Airline company Lion Air says it is improving its flight safety standards by gradually rolling out the so-called Required Navigation Performance (RNP) methods and standards in eventually all its aircraft
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irline company Lion Air says it is improving its flight safety standards by gradually rolling out the so-called Required Navigation Performance (RNP) methods and standards in eventually all its aircraft.
The equipment required to implement RNP, which costs at least US$300,000, will be particularly helpful in guiding planes prior or during landing and takeoff at airports with above-average level of difficulties, said Lion production director Ertata Lananggalih on Tuesday.
"This is part of our commitment to provide a better service to our clients," Ertata said.
As the equipment will only be fully optimal if the airports are also equipped with RNP, Ertata said that the company, in cooperation with US aircraft producer Boeing, would provide technical assistance to related authorities such as airport operators and officials at the Transportation Ministry.
At present, the facility is already built-in in all 26 units of Boeing 737-900ER the airline has so far received from Boeing, as part of its 178-plane order from the US plane manufacturer. The planes are to be used mostly to fly "difficult" routes, such as the Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado, South Sulawesi, and Pattimura Airport in Ambon.
"Manado and Ambon are difficult destinations because the areas are mountainous. This new safety system will guide planes to the airports," Ertata said.
Lion will also gradually install the equipment on its remaining 21 aircraft.
Ertata said the equipment would help reduce accidents during and after landing as well as takeoff, while it would also reduce fuel consumption. "Besides, the passengers will be more comfortable during the flight because the aircraft maneuvers will be smoother," Ertata said.
Combined data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Aircraft Crashes Record Office (ACRO) indicate that the number of commercial plane crashes in Indonesia is the highest in Asia, with 2,176 fatal air accidents since 1943, compared with 1,141 in the Philippines and 1,976 in Japan.
As of September, Lion has netted about 9 million passengers of the 13 million passengers it has targeted this year. (naf)
