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Jakarta Post

Regular air travelers ignore flight safety too

More than just an example of the arrogance of public officials, the recent assault of a Sriwijaya Air flight attendant by Bangka Belitung Regional Investment Coordinating Board head Zakaria Umar Hadi after he was asked to switch off his cell phone as he boarded the aircraft, only shows how passengers still have poor understanding and awareness of flight safety

Hyginus Hardoyo (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Sun, June 23, 2013

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Regular air travelers ignore flight safety too

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ore than just an example of the arrogance of public officials, the recent assault of a Sriwijaya Air flight attendant by Bangka Belitung Regional Investment Coordinating Board head Zakaria Umar Hadi after he was asked to switch off his cell phone as he boarded the aircraft, only shows how passengers still have poor understanding and awareness of flight safety.

Many passengers are still unaware that radio waves from their activated telecommunication gadgets could disturb the aircraft'€™s navigation system as well as communication between pilots and air traffic controllers.

Many airlines have reported problems with cabin pressure, compass function and wireless navigation systems associated with the use of cell phones on board.

A senior pilot with Garuda Indonesia, Jeffrey Adrian, recently said that some foreign pilots had described their flying experience in Indonesia as '€œhellish'€. Jeffrey complained that he once heard music coming through a phone conversation in addition to a conversation involving phone sex. Luckily, plane crashes resulting from navigation system disturbances as a result of cell phone usage is not common.

As more people opt to fly these days, many people are simply choosing to disregard flight safety regulations. They refuse to use seat belts, they smoke in restrooms and remove life vests.

Over the past three years, the aviation sector in Indonesia grew between 15 and 20 percent annually and is expected to register double-digit growth in coming years. But with the rapid growth, airlines are facing the challenge of dealing passengers with different attitudes.

Law No. 1/2009 on flights regulates obligations for both airlines and its passengers. The regulation adopts international flight regulations, which underlines the fatal impact of not switching off cell phones during a flight. If flight attendants fail to carry out their responsibilities, they could face sanctions.

All passengers have to abide by orders given by flight attendants as they are representatives of pilots and co-pilots, who are in charge of the entire flight. Passengers who violate the regulation could face punishment, including prison.

In China, many cell phones are equipped with '€œflight mode'€, but the country'€™s civil aviation authorities say they do not tolerate the activation of communication devices during flights to avoid interference.

The Bangka Belitung official, Zakaria, has been named an assault suspect. He allegedly slapped the face of stewardess Nur Febriani with a rolled-up newspaper after the flight attendant asked him to turn-off his phone as the plane was still landing.

Zakaria is facing charges under Law No. 1/2009 on flights for violating flight safety regulations and the Criminal Code, particularly Article 351 on maltreatment.

Air Transportation director general at the Transportation Ministry, Herry Bakti, fully supports any effort to uphold the law on flights. The air transportation directorate has stepped up measures to discipline pilots who exceed their flying hours limit by fining them for compromising flight safety.

The government has approved a request from the Indonesian National Air Carrier Association (INACA) for the suspension of any pilot or cabin crew member who tests positive for illicit drugs.

Pilots who are found guilty of drug abuse will lose their licenses.

In line with the growing number of air travelers thanks to booming budget airlines, it is time for the government and operators to step up the dissemination of safety regulations as a way to prevent and reduce air accidents caused by human ignorance.

Zakaria and other ignorant passengers are unable to patiently wait for the arrival of in-flight cell phone technology, which a few major airlines have already introduced in their luxury fleets.

The author is a staff writer at The Jakarta Post.

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