Indonesia Allows 35 Foreign Aircraft to Fight Forest Fires

Indonesia has granted 35 permits for foreign aircraft to aid in combating forest fires across various regions of the country. The permits, issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, cover helicopters operated by 11 Air Operator Certificate holders from eight different nations, including Russia, the United States, Australia, and Canada. The aircraft are stationed in Indonesia to bolster land and forest fire management efforts.

These permits were issued with the goal of streamlining the deployment of foreign-registered aircraft, facilitating expedited licensing, operational support, and flight safety oversight. Lukman F. Laisa, Director General of Air Transportation, emphasized that his office remains dedicated to supporting ongoing firefighting operations in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo. The ministry has implemented this policy to meet the operational demands of wildfire suppression efforts in several regions across Indonesia.

The authorized operators, such as Ersa Eastern Aviation and Volta Pasifik Aviasi, have the flexibility to redeploy to other disaster zones as needed, with only a 24-hour notification required to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. This policy ensures a swift response to rapidly shifting fire conditions while adhering to aviation safety and security regulations.

The Ministry of Transportation's Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations maintains oversight and certification over airworthiness standards, ensuring the safe operation of these specialized aircraft during firefighting missions.