Indonesian Carriers Stay on EU Blacklist

Air Safety Week, July 28, 2008

The European Union (EU) will maintain a ban on all Indonesian airlines flying into its airspace because of continued safety concerns, according to the European Commission (EC).

The EC and EU's Air Safety Committee unanimously turned down a request by four Indonesian airlines to be removed from the so-called EU 'blacklist'. The decision means all 51 Indonesian airlines remain banned from EU airspace.

Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, Mandala Airlines and charter carrier Air Fast were found to have improved safety standards but could not be confirmed as safe enough for EU skies, the committee said.

Despite significant efforts to improve safety standards, "Indonesian authorities have still not developed and implemented an efficient oversight program on any of the carriers under their regulatory control," it added. "Besides, the corrective actions designed to address safety deficiencies detected by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and by the Commission, have not yet been assessed by ICAO," the EC statement added.

Indonesia last year launched a program to improve air safety standards after the EU banned all of its airlines from flying in its airspace following a string of fatal accidents.

An Adam Air jetlinjer crashed into the sea off Indonesia's Sulawesi Island in January 2007 due to pilot error, killing everyone on board. The airline has since been shuttered.

Two months later, a Garuda jet burst into flames on landing in Central Java, killing 21 people.

The pilot in command of the Garuda Boeing 737 has gone on trial - accused of deliberately ignoring warnings, causing the airliner to crash. Marwoto Komar faces a maximum of life in prison, if found guilty of causing the Boeing 737 to crash. The jetliner skidded off a runway at Yogyakarta Airport, bursting into flames. Komar's trial is expected to last several months.

The EC removed the operating ban of Iranian air carrier Mahan Airlines "in view of the significant efforts and progress accomplished by this carrier, which were verified during an on site inspection in Iran."

The EC added all air carriers operating in Gabon to its blacklist, except two, Gabon Airlines and Afrijet, which will be allowed to continue serving Europe at current levels.

"The Commission acknowledges that the Government of Gabon has made prompt and drastic efforts to effectively change the safety situation of their civil aviation with the direct help from ICAO, including the adoption through an emergency procedure of a new Aviation Code," the EC stated.

The Commission also decided to maintain the ban on all operations of Ukraine Cargo Airways as the airline has not yet been able to successfully implement its corrective actions plan. Also, the Commission has reminded the authorities of Ukraine regarding the need to strengthen enforcement of the safety standards.

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