Adam Air flies into another storm
DENPASAR – Bali Update (www.balidiscovery.com) reports the Indonesian Department of Civil Aviation has threatened to “freeze” Adam Air’s Air Operating Certificate if the carrier’s management is unable to quickly correct its safety management shortcomings.
In the latest safety incident involving an Adam Air flight, one of its aircraft slid off the runway at Batam’s Hang Nadim Airport on March 10. Several passengers suffered injuries in the mishap, but no fatalities were reported.
The Minister of Transportation, Jusman Syafii Djamal, told Bisnis Indonesia that if improvements are not made soon he will lower the safety rating of Adam Air to “category 3” – the lowest safety rating which could lead to a closure of the airline.
Meanwhile, members of the National Transportation Safety Committee have announced that the final results of their investigation into the January 1, 2007 crash of an Adam Air flight will be released in the next two weeks.
That crash, which saw an airplane disappear into the ocean near South Sulawesi, claimed the lives of 102 passengers and crew.
Amidst the threat of a government crackdown, Bali
Update says it now appears that Adam Air problems have worsened with the carrier facing a severe cash crunch due to the “resignation” of a 50% partner in the business – PT Bhakti Investama.
Bhkati Investama, which owns its investment in the airline through Global Transport Services, have told the press that they have seen little improvement in the airline’s safety performance and operational transparency.
The head of corporate communications for Adam Air, Danke Drajat, has denied the airline is on the verge of a shutdown due to financial difficulties.
Drajat did, however, confirm that only 14 of the airline’s 23 aircraft are currently operating, with the remainder undergoing “routine” inspections.
Speaking to Bisnis Indonesia, he said: “If there are those who say we (Adam Air) will stop operations next week, that is only gossip.
“The truth is that we have indeed reduced flight frequencies to several destinations because several of our planes are undergoing routine inspections.”
He denied that reports that some agents have stopped selling Adam Air tickets from March 16.
Ian Jarrett
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