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INDONESIAN Minister of Transportation. Budi Karya Sumadi said that the regulation of air space with all flight information or Flight Information Region (FIR) in the Riau Islands (Kepri) and Natuna regions is officially fully regulated by Indonesia, after previously being controlled by Singapore.
“This provision is effective starting March 21 2024 at 20.00 UTC or March 22 2024 at 03.00 WIB. This is good news for the world of Indonesian aviation,” said Budi in a statement in Jakarta, Sunday (03/24), 2024.
Budi said that this would take effect after completing the air space re-alignment agreement or FIR re-alignment with the Singapore government, so that now Indonesia will regulate the air space above the two islands itself.
He said that this agreement had increased the area of the Jakarta FIR by 249,575 square kilometers, bringing the area of the Jakarta FIR to 2,842,725 square kilometers or an increase of 9.5 percent from the original area.
“Now aircraft flying in the FIR reset area will receive flight navigation services from Indonesia,” said Budi.
Previously, continued Budi, even for domestic flights such as from Jakarta to Natuna, you had to contact Singapore flight navigation when entering the Riau Islands.
Meanwhile, on international flights, such as from Hong Kong to Jakarta, when passing over the Natuna Islands you must contact Singapore flight navigation first and then be served by AirNav Indonesia.
“After resetting the FIR, the two planes will be immediately served by AirNav Indonesia, no need to go to Singapore,” said Budi.
Budi explained that the journey of FIR negotiations with Singapore had started in 1995, until an agreement was finally reached in 2022. So according to the Minister of Transportation, this achievement is something to be grateful for.
“I hope that with the enactment of this FIR Agreement, cooperation between the two countries in improving the safety and efficiency of navigation services in the air space can continue,” he remarked.
The Minister of Transportation further stated that the government will make every effort to ensure that the management of Indonesia’s air space is safe, effective, in accordance with national interests and meets international standard civil aviation services.
He is optimistic that the transfer of FIR will have a positive impact on Indonesia, especially in terms of state revenues.
“Hopefully the implementation of the FIR agreement will also improve aviation safety and security and be the right momentum for the modernization of aviation navigation equipment and the development of Indonesia’s human resources,” Budi added.
Meanwhile, Director General of Civil Aviation at the Ministry of Transportation, Maria Kristi Endah Murni, said that the operational transfer of flight navigation services was carried out after Indonesia and Singapore signed an agreement to regulate air space in the two regions in Bintan on January 25 2022.
Then it was ratified by Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 109 of 2022 concerning Boundary Adjustments between the Jakarta Flight Information Region and the Singapore Flight Information Region.
The adjustment of the Jakarta FIR and Singapore FIR limits has of course been discussed at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), with approval from ICAO on 15 December 2023.
Kristi added that regarding flight service charges, the government will regulate them professionally and competitively. Indonesia will begin to enjoy an increase in state income originating from the flight navigation service fees applied to the additional areas of the Jakarta FIR.
“This is part of the FIR Agreement between Indonesia and Singapore. “The hope is that the national aviation industry can grow and develop over time,” said Kristi.
She said that collection of Route Air Navigation Services (RANS) Charges in the Sector A and B airspace areas, from heights 0 to 37,000 feet, will be carried out starting March 21 2024, according to the agreement between Indonesia and Singapore.
Meanwhile, air space areas outside this sector, which are affected by the Jakarta-Singapore FIR adjustments, will be collected by Perum LPPNPI in accordance with applicable regulations.
In line with that, Kristi added, the Indonesian government also placed Civil Military Cooperation in Air Traffic Management (CMAC) personnel at the Singapore Air Traffic Control Center (SATCC).
These personnel have received technical equipment training at the Makassar Air Traffic Control Center, direct SOP simulations at SATCC, and national air defense system training at Wingdik 700 Surabaya.
“They will be on guard 24 hours a day to monitor planes from Indonesia to Singapore and vice versa,” Kristi concluded. [antaranews]
