INDONESIAN AVIATION FLYING HIGH AFTER YEARS OF TURBULENCE

Almost every time you read something about Indonesian aviation you will hear about the 1997 Asian financial crisis and how it stifled Indonesia’s aviation industry. What happened that caused this devastating crisis for Asia’s once-vibrant economies that were used to decades of rapid growth?

The causes of Asia’s problems were complex, and understanding them fully is beyond the scope of this article. Basically, what happened the Thai baht collapsed in July 1997 and Thailand was forced to let its currency float. Within just a few weeks, what was just a local financial crisis became a regional problem spreading to Indonesia within months.

Now, over 21 years later after Jakarta was plunged into a deep recession, we are reading headlines like “Indonesia’s aircraft industry is ready to take off again.” What are the signs that a recovery is happening and what are the problems to overcome?

In the 1980s before the Asian financial crisis, Indonesia’s aircraft industry supplied major jetliner makers like Boeing and Airbus. Now there are two companies that are getting back to the glory days of Indonesian plane manufacturing.

These are state-run aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) and privately-owned domestic aircraft-maker

PT Dirgantara Indonesia

Founded in 1976, DI was then known as “Nusantara Aircraft Industry” and had 16,000 employees. They became subcontractors to major aircraft companies, including Boeing, General Dynamics, Airbus, and Fokker. Following the 1997 Asian financial crisis, they were forced to downsize, cutting 12,000 jobs and delay the development of new aircraft. A major restructuring program was implemented they were re-introduced as PT. Dirgantara Indonesia.

Now with this restructuring, since 2012 DI has been able to manufacture 60 aircraft and helicopters, exporting them to Thailand, Senegal, and South Korea. They are now developing new types of aircraft, one being the N-219 transport, a 19-seat plane for missions in remote areas.

Also, they are working with Korea Aerospace Industries to develop a fighter aircraft for both Indonesia and Korea. Referred to as “IFX” (Indonesia Fighter eXperimental) and KF-X in Korea. Based on the history of other similar programs, the new plane probably won’t enter service until 2025.

PT Regio Aviasi Industri (RAI)

Indonesia’s RAI is also taking off with its development of the R-80 aircraft, an 80-seat regional transport aircraft. Up to 155 R-80 planes have been ordered by local airlines, and the prototype is targeted for flight tests by 2022.

Problems to Overcome

Indonesia is the only Southeast Asia country with complex aircraft manufacturing ability. Other Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, focus on manufacturing parts, maintenance, repair, and overhaul services.

However, even with this manufacturing capability and all this progress with the resurgence, the Indonesian aircraft industry faces challenges. Poor maintenance, safety issues, and lack of support are some of the main ones.

Indonesia’s aircraft industry is still behind others in the region despite its potential. The overall trade value of Indonesia’s aerospace products is still below Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

PT Filder Portal Indonesia

Peter Ritzmann of PT Filder Portal Indonesia is now riding this wave of progress after the many years of the Indonesian aviation industry trying to crawl back to prosperity. Providing aviation consulting in Jakarta and specializing in helicopters for cargo transportation, contact him today for expertise in Indonesian Aviation.

HEAVY SLING-LOAD CARGO TRANSPORTATION BY HELICOPTER IN INDONESIA

Cargo transportation by helicopter in Indonesia should be recognized as an important industry. Transferring cargo by external sling load below a helicopter is a regular occurrence in the military but is also used frequently in civilian aviation.

Helicopters using a heavy sling load are the best and fastest way to deliver materials to a destination.

Sling load helicopters capable of handling the heavy-lifting are very efficient because they can transport loads to remote areas rough in terrain and have high altitudes as much of Indonesia does. A sling load operation is often the only way for a safe and dependable transport solution in these situations.

Equipped with cargo hooks to carry the materials to be transported, they can perform a wide variety of external load work.

Some of the most common external load operations include:

• Aerial Side-Trimming around power transmission lines and pipelines
• Agriculture (fence building, distributing hay bales, salt blocks, etc.)
• Construction work
• Electrical line work
• Fertilizer spreading
• Fire suppression with buckets
• Heli-logging
• Servicing oil rigs and stocking remote outposts with supplies

How much weight can a sling load helicopter lift?

Light utility helicopters can lift between 1,200 and 4,000 pounds. On the other end of the range, the M-26, the world’s largest heavy-lift helicopter, can transport up to 20 tons (44,000 lbs.) The cargo hook equipment affects the load capacity. For example, if a helicopter model is rated by the manufacturer as having a maximum cargo sling load capacity of 4,000 LB, but the cargo hook equipment is only rated for 3,000 LB, then the pilot can only carry loads weighing 3,000 LB or less.

Types of loads

External loads are divided into three categories:

1. High Density
2. Low Density
3. Aerodynamic

Each load has different characteristics in flight. The high-density load offers the best stability; the low density loads the least. The aerodynamic load will be unstable until some form of load-streamlining is done.

Sling load helicopter pilots

Sling load operations are one of the most technically difficult skills to master and require a high level of concentration. So, it is imperative that the pilot has the proper training and certifications. Many pilots for commercial sling-load jobs have had military experience. The training and the kind of missions they do during their service make them outstanding pilots for the Indonesian heavy sling-load cargo transportation industry.

Ground support services

It takes a team to undertake heavy sling-load cargo operations. Sling load helicopter operators are assisted by a ground crew to ensure the load is safely attached and are accurately placed in the designated area. Ground crew training and performance determine the success of a sling load mission.

Helicopter external loads carried differ across the respective industries and include, for example, timber and steel used for construction, antennas and oversize equipment such as air-conditioning units and remote site drilling equipment. All these varied uses require ground crews trained specifically for the type of mission.

Do the impossible

The combination of helicopters and professional pilot skills to hover with loads slung beneath allows you to reach the thousands of islands and inaccessible places throughout the archipelago, conduct offshore operations and much more.

Indonesia would not be the same without the heavy sling-load cargo transportation industry. The impact on economic development and wellbeing of its citizens is immeasurable. Keep that in mind when you need to do something that otherwise would be very difficult or impossible.