Drone-related disruptions have also occurred at several other airports. At least 30 drones have entered the airspace of Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta in the last few years. In 2016, drone disruptions occurred at Sultan Syarif Kasim International Airport in Pekanbaru, prompting the Indonesian Air Force to threaten to shoot down all drones entering the airport’s airspace, considering that the Air Force has an air base located in the same area.

The disruptions, posed by dangerously- operated commercial drones, are generally related to violations of maximum flight altitude and no-fly zones around airports. They happen because the drone pilots are unaware of or intended to violate drone safety and operating rules.

Discussions or news reports regarding drone disruptions of airport operations in Indonesia are lacking, perhaps because there has been no major or fatal accident resulting from illegal drone operation here, unlike in other countries. Gatwick Airport in London was closed for 36 hours last December because of sightings of multiple drones that roamed within the second busiest airport in England. The closure affected more than 1,000 flights and about 140,000 passengers.

Studies show that drones can cause more damage to aircraft than a bird strike simply because most of their components, e.g. batteries and cameras, are made from heavy plastic and metal. They may cause catastrophic damage in midair by ripping aircraft wings, windscreens and engines and even spark fires with their lithium batteries.

Indonesia has already enforced regulations and possesses capabilities needed to prevent and overcome drone disruptions. The transportation minister issued in 2015 regulations No. 90, 163 and 180, which concern maximum altitude, flight permits, pilot certification, registration of drones and certain areas designated as restricted or limited airspaces for drones.

The government has also regularly publicized the regulations and provided training on how to operate drones safely.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) is armed with equipment to shoot down drones. This antidrone capability was demonstrated during the opening and closing ceremony of the Asian Games in Jakarta and during a world record-breaking drone shooting event in Monas Square in Central Jakarta last year.

That said, airport authorities can ask for the TNI’s assistance in coping with drone disruptions. The TNI itself has long been involved in protecting airports that are classified as national strategic and vital installations .

Despite the prevailing regulations and antidrone capabilities, the country remains at risk of drone-related airport disruptions, thanks in part to the increasing popularity of commercial drones. This threat may turn real if, for example, someone wants to disrupt flight operations by intentionally flying his drone into restricted areas or altitudes.

The problem in Indonesia is that only a few airports that share airspace with air bases can be said to be equipped with antidrone systems. There are only four airports/air bases in the country that operate a “hard-kill” system to shoot down drones with guided munitions and missiles, like Skyshield.

The other “soft-kill” antidrone system works by disrupting the control signals between a drone and its pilot, thus forcing the unmanned flying vehicle to land or return home, like the one in place at Halim Perdanakusuma airport.

The number of antidrone systems owned by TNI are limited compared to that of civilian airports across Indonesia. Also, there are still many other strategic facilities that need protection from drones, such as government buildings and military installations. Dependence of civilian airports on the TNI’s antidrone system could lead to a slow response to drone disruptions that can occur at any time. It is possible to assume that a drone may have already inflicted damage before the military antidrone device arrives.

Therefore, investing in antidrone systems cannot wait especially for state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura. A pre-installed antidrone system would give airport authorities more time to track illegal drone signals or flight paths in order to locate and arrest its pilot. It is also more effective since the standby antidrone team should ideally be familiar with the airport’s layout and areas vulnerable to drone disruptions.

After the drone disruptions, Gatwick Airport spent £5 million (US$6.26 million) to buy its own antidrone system. The investment was small compared with the potential losses if the airport has to stop operations, not to mention deal with aviation accidents and the overall safety of airline passengers. In comparison, Bali lost Rp 209 billion from its tourism industry after a three-day closure of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport because of a volcanic eruption in 2017.

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The writer is a research intern in the Department of International Relations at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta.

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