REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PEKANBARU -- Chief of Staff of Indonesian Air Force Ida Bagus Putu Dunia demands President Joko Widodo to take over air traffic in West Indonesia. Singapore is controlling the air traffic in the area through Flight Information Region (FIR).
"Our national interest must be a cornerstone to develop our defence for sovereignty. We have to take over the air traffic," Dunia said on Wednesday, December 3.
Indonesia divides air traffic control into two, west part and east part. The west part is controlled in Sumatera, while the east is in Makassar. Most of the west part is controlled by Singapore, as stated in Presidential Decree No. 7 of 1996 on Ratification of the Treaty FIR (flight information region) with Singapore.
He said that Air Force has strong reasons for its demand. Air Force, he said, was in duty to enforce law and secure Indonesian territory, then air traffic sovereignty is a must. Secondly, Air Force must obtain permit for its every plane from Singapore. Thirdly, Air Force recently has to force down illegal plane due to air traffic violation.
"We hope government take over the air traffic soon," he said.
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