T

he Indonesian Airport Experts Association (IABI) says it will soon offer certifications for airport designers and engineers.

IABI chairman Indra Tjahya said on Thursday currently the association was finishing the curriculum and modules for the certification process.

“We are focusing on consultants, designers and engineers in the first phase of the certification process,” he told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a seminar on alternative airport pavement technologies that commemorated the IABI’s first anniversary.

“Eventually everyone working in airport operations should be certified, including contractors.”

Indra said there were currently around 230 airports located throughout the archipelago, in addition to 700 airstrips for pioneer flights.

“Certification is also needed to provide people with recognition to allow them to work outside Indonesia. It also forms an entry barrier for foreign experts to protect local ones,” Indra said.

He said IABI was operating under the Indonesian Aviation Profession Certification Agency (LSPAI), which has been recognized by the National Professional Standardization Board (BNSP).

IABI currently has 68 members comprised of regulators, consultants, contractors and academics who specialize in airport-related aspects of IT, technology, management and operations.

On Thursday’s seminar, Indra said the association wanted to highlight alternatives in pavement construction technologies developed by Indonesian engineers to be used at airports with certain soil conditions, such as peatlands.

Ivindra Pane and Ryantori presented their Spider Web Construction (KSLL) system, which has been used extensively in Indonesia and helped many buildings to endure earthquakes.

The pair said further study was needed to gain international acceptance for KSLL to be used at airports.

Bambang Suhendro presented the Modified Chicken Claw (CAM) system, a variant of the Chicken Claw system that has been used at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for about 30 years.

Meanwhile, Endro Suwarto presented the Adhi Concrete Pavement System, which offers faster installation of pre-cast slabs with minimal disruptions to airport operations.

Harmein Rahman of the Bandung Institute of Technology’s Highway and Traffic Laboratory said both KSLL and CAM dealt with soft soil problems but came up with different systems.