ICAO President: Stop Indonesian Flight Bans
Saturday, 29 November, 2008 | 07:59 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Roberto Kobeh Gonzales urged the European Union to immediately stop flight bans to Indonesia. He said Indonesia has improved its flight safety standard, as well as its capacity, pilot quality, and air traffic service. “I hope the union will see it to stop it soon,” he said yesterday.

Gonzales met the leader of the European Union to discuss the ban. He explained that Indonesia has been transparent by showing the ICAO audit report on its official site. “Not every country does this. Transparency is important,” he said.

He asked the Indonesian government not to see the banning as a burden. “It is only a small snag. Indonesia is going the right way,” said Gonzales.

However, he suggested that the Indonesian government increase flight safety by approving the aviation draft bill soon.

He is amazed with the improvement Indonesia has made. Indonesia added more flight inspectors and integrated operators of air traffic service. “If there had been no progress, I would not be here,” he said.

During his visit in Indonesia, Gonzales gave a speech for a seminar about the Air Navigation Service Provider. He was involved in a launching of a Civil Aviation Transformation Team (CATT) that works together with international aviation regulators like ICAO, the Aviation federation Administration (FAA-America), Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA-Australia), Japan, and the European Union.

Meanwhile, Mandala's Director Warwick Brady said that since the flight ban applied, Mandala lost around 3,000 passengers. “The ban forbids foreigners from flying with Indonesian airlines,” he said yesterday.

Earlier, Mandala offered to fly thousands of employees of the oil company Total E&P Indonesie. Due to the flight ban, this offer was canceled. Mandala can only fly local passengers. “The European Union has made a mistake by banning all airlines,” he said.

Brady received a letter from Director of the Air Transportation Directorate of the European Union, Daniel Calleja, saying that he is happy with the progress Mandala made.

“Mandala can meet the standards as it has been audited by various international institutions,” he said. Mandala has also completed an external audit, carried out by foreign institutions Airbus, Boeing Kenyon, and Altara-Australia.

VENNIE MELYANI