Boeing to boost Indonesian aviation standards
Boeing has signed a new agreement to boost aviation standards in Indonesia.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), penned in Jakarta this week between the US planemaker and Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation, will see the two parties work together to establish aviation training programmes in line with global standards. The deal will encompass several areas, including flight, technician and air traffic control training.
“We are pleased to continue our relationship with the Indonesia Ministry of Transportation to work together to meet the growing demand in the Indonesian market,” said Sherry Carbary, Vice President of Boeing Flight Services. “Our collective goal is to make Indonesia a model for commercial aviation.”
As part of the agreement, Boeing will work with the Indonesian government to develop an aviation training centre focusing on commercial jet pilot training, based on standards set by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). It will also work to align air traffic controller and airline maintenance training programmes with global standards.
The latest Boeing forecast projects that the Southeast Asia region will require more than 47,000 new commercial airline pilots and more than 60,000 new maintenance technicians over the next 20 years.
Indonesia will be leading this growth. In February, Boeing signed a record US$22.4 billion with Jakarta-based Lion Air for 230 new aircraft, while Garuda Indonesia is planning to add almost double its fleet over the next few years, adding another 80 aircraft. New airlines such as Pacific Royale and Batik Air will also increase the need for pilots and technicians in the country.
“The need for these kinds of solutions has never been more important, as Indonesia undergoes unprecedented growth,” said Captain Bobby Mamahit, Director Human Resources at Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation. “Our need for world class training programmes fits very well with the capabilities that Boeing is equipped to offer.”
Indonesia’s aviation safety record has been under severe scrutiny in recent years following a series of accidents in the country.