News
Another incident for Indonesia
April 8th 2016
On Monday, a Batik Air B737-800 and a TransNusa ATR 42-600 collided at Jakarta’s Halim Airport. This latest incident under Indonesia’s notoriously unsafe skies could squash the hopes of Batik Air, Lion Air and Citilink for a reappraisal of the European Union’s carrier blacklist later this month. Read More » Of the archipelago’s major carriers, only flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has been granted full EU access since it was delisted in 2009.
The Batik Air B737, on a routine flight to Ujung Padang in Sulawesi, was accelerating for take-off when the empty ATR under tow crossed the runway about 1280 meters/4200 feet down the runway. The Boeing aircraft rejected take-off at approximately 110 knots, but could not stop in time to avoid the collision. The impact of the B737’s left wing sliced off most of the tail and left wing from the ATR, rupturing fuel tanks in the process and starting fires in both aircraft.
Batik Air says their flight, carrying 49 passengers and seven crew, was cleared for take-off.
“We cannot yet determine whether the incident was caused by error from the ATC, the tug operator, or the pilot,” airport operator Angkasa Pura II said.
Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry recently ordered a 15% reduction in aircraft movements at Jakarta’s main airport, Soekarno-Hatta, to alleviate “a greater risk of collisions and accidents” amid concerns that ATC staffing levels were not able to keep up with the workload.
In view of this incident, it remains to be seen whether the EU will send its inspectors to Indonesia later this month to review the Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA’s) oversight of Batik Air, Lion Air and Citilink, both in terms of organization and regulation.
Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) director-general, Andrew Herdman, has repeatedly warned Indonesia of a need to increase its operational standards, and infrastructure.
On a more positive note for Indonesian aviation, after years of waiting for slots, flag carrier Garuda last week moved its UK operations from Gatwick to Heathrow Airport. Due to persisting runway and weight limitations at Soekarno-Hatta, the Jakarta-Heathrow service will see a transit stop at Singapore’s Changi, while the return leg will be non-stop. Garuda deploys its flagship three-class B777-300ER on the five-weekly route.
