Jakarta (ANTARA) - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has highlighted the need for maintaining flight safety following the improvement in the aviation industry after COVID-19 disruptions.
"The improved condition (of the aviation industry) is fascinating, but it is not without challenges. The challenge is to ensure that the safety aspect is taken care of," Sumadi said while virtually opening the seventh Congress of the Indonesian Pilots Association (IPI), themed "Together To Achieve Higher Level", on Tuesday.
In addition to monitoring old aircraft that have been out of service for a long time, pilots who have not flown for a while are also a concern, according to the minister.
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Since the beginning of the pandemic, the aviation industry has experienced a downward trend, hitting minus 20 percent compared to the pre-pandemic era, he pointed out.
The aviation sector experienced the largest contraction among industries, he noted. However, this condition has now started to improve by 60–70 percent, Sumadi said.
Moreover, all parties must ensure the recovery of the aviation industry, and monitoring the condition of the flight crew is one effort towards this, he added.
"Their competence, license, mental, physical, and health readiness must be well-prepared," he said.
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The minister also asked the Indonesian Pilots Association to help the government by reminding its members about flight safety that is hugely determined by a pilot's prime condition.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Indonesian Pilots Association, Capt. Iwan Setyawan, said that the association is fully committed to maintaining aviation safety and working to aid aviation sector recovery.
"(We) thank the Transportation Minister and the officers at the Directorate General of Air Transportation, who always take the time to attend the annual congress of IPI, and provide valuable directives," Setyawan added.
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