Govt to facilitate national airlines flight to the U.S.

Jakarta, InfoPublik – Transportation Ministry’s flight operations subdirectorate head Captain Tri Nusiogo explained several necessary steps that must be taken by Indonesian airlines to open flight to the U.S.

This mechanism was announced following the recognition of Indonesian aviation safety by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Aug., 15.

The first step is the airlines must submit a request to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of the Ministry of Transportation. Second, the DGCA will convey the request to the FAA, so that the airlines may receive approval in accordance to the FAA’s Airline Operational Control (AOC) 129.

Third, the airlines must complete the requirements related to FAA’s AOC 129. Fourth, the FAA will conduct assessment to the airlines related to compliance of AOC 129 and will consider inputs from DGCA.

"We will support the airlines by providing supervision and guidance in order to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. We will also facilitate or clarify to the FAA if needed when evaluating the airlines," he said on Sunday (8/20).

Furthermore, Mr. Nusiogo revealed that DGCA will provide inputs to the FAA honestly and truthfully related to the airline. DGCA expects the FAA will be assured and then the airline may open flights from Indonesia to the U.S.

If the airlines are going to use third country as a transit point, said Mr. Nusiogo, the government through the DGCA will also assist them to obtain Five Freedom Traffic Rights from the third country.

But, currently, he added, only Garuda Indonesia airlines that has requested to open flights to the U.S. DGCA invites other Indonesian airlines that are willing to open flights to the U.S. to submit the request. (Translator: Wilda Stiana)