Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The development of the national aviation industry is becoming increasingly urgent in light of changing regional geo-economic and geopolitical dynamics. Indonesia has significant potential to develop this industry, including the presence of PT Dirgantara Indonesia, a key player in aviation manufacturing.
This was one of the conclusions drawn during a discussion held by the Center for Technology & Innovation Studies (CTIS) in Jakarta on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. The discussion, titled “The Indonesian Aviation Industry,” featured Air Chief Marshal (Ret.) Chappy Hakim, Founder and Chair of the Indonesian Air Power Study Center, as the keynote speaker, with Professor Harijono Djojodihardjo, a CTIS member, Professor Emeritus of Bandung Institute of Technology, and former head of the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), as moderator.
Chappy Hakim emphasized the importance of safeguarding the nation’s airspace sovereignty while also utilizing it to unify Indonesia through, among other initiatives, the development of the national aviation industry.
Highlighting three major world events of the past century triggered by air power, Chappy recounted the Japanese Imperial Navy’s airstrike on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which drew the United States into World War II. He also mentioned the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by U.S. B-29 bombers in August 1945, which ended the war with Japan. Lastly, he referenced the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, which ushered in a global “War on Terrorism.”
He also pointed to Indonesia’s own history of air power during the Trikora Operation for West Papua’s liberation in the early 1960s. Strategic TU-16 bombers of the Indonesian Air Force (AURI) were instrumental in pressuring the Netherlands to negotiate under UN supervision, ultimately leading to West Papua’s return to Indonesia through diplomacy and military infiltration operations.
Chappy stressed that airspace is a national resource to be utilized for the people’s welfare. He underlined the critical role of aviation in connecting Indonesia’s approximately 17,000 islands, stating, “A robust network of sea and air transportation is essential for unifying the nation.”
The national aviation industry, according to Chappy, should exhibit five key characteristics: the existence of a flag carrier airline, the presence of pioneer airlines, the operation of charter airlines, the development of cargo airlines, and the establishment of a domestic aircraft manufacturing industry.
Indonesia already possesses these attributes to varying extents, Chappy noted, including the management of Garuda Indonesia as a flag carrier modeled after the renowned Dutch airline system. Indonesia once had Merpati Nusantara Airlines as a pioneer airline, but following its closure, its role is expected to be assumed by Pelita Air. Charter and cargo airlines also depend on the support of a strong aircraft manufacturing base.
Chappy expressed pride in the CN-235 Tetuko aircraft produced by PT Dirgantara Indonesia, which is versatile enough for passenger and cargo transportation and is used by both civilian and military operators worldwide. He emphasized the need to enhance after-sales service and spare parts availability for these aircraft.
He also voiced hopes for the mass production of the N-219 transport aircraft, another PT Dirgantara Indonesia creation, as it is well-suited for inter-island transport across Indonesia, with features like short runway capability, fuel efficiency, and relatively low operational costs.
Chappy highlighted challenges and strategies for advancing the aviation industry in Indonesia, such as government support for investment and incentives, as well as revisiting and updating policies and regulations. For example, the issue of airspace as a natural resource under the 1945 Constitution necessitates the re-establishment of the National Aviation and Space Council (Depanri) and the reinstatement of LAPAN, which was established by law.
“LAPAN was the first institution of its kind in Asia, and as early as 1961, it successfully launched KAPPA rockets. Unfortunately, it no longer exists,” Chappy lamented, concluding his presentation.
