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JAKARTA - INDONESIA needs an independent watchdog to improve air safety because it is currently too easy for airlines to obtain flight certificates, a member of a parliamentary committee overseeing transport said on Monday.
Indonesia has suffered a string of deadly air accidents in recent years and the European Commission last week upheld a ban on all the country's airlines, saying the government had still not implemented an efficient oversight programme.
The directorate of air safety certification, which can issue licences for pilots and airlines, is currently under the transport ministry and the government would like this to remain unchanged under a new aviation law being debated.
'We are still not clear on the issue because the government is being defensive and plans to just strengthen the institution, while factions in parliament want this directorate to be independent,' said Mr Abdul Hakim, a member of a parliamentary commission overseeing transportation, telecoms and public works.
'Low salaries for staff have caused rampant collusion, making it easy for airlines to get permits or certificates,' he added.
Mr Bambang Ervan, a spokesman for the transportation ministry, said it did not interfere in the watchdog's operations and it was not necessary to separate it from the ministry.
He also disputed claims the watchdog did not have enough inspectors to monitor flight safety, adding the ministry was trying to gradually raise the number of inspectors and training.
'We have done the mathematical calculations. How many planes in an airport and how many inspectors we should put there.'
Mr Jean-Pierre Ambrosini, a European Union civil aviation expert brought in to help assist Indonesia, has said at least 100 inspectors are needed to oversee the country's 51 airlines and more than 380 airports, compared with the current 30 inspectors.
Another aviation expert, Mr Chappy Hakim, said independent certification was crucial to improve safety.
'There should be an independent body, because if an institution functions as a certification agency and overseer at once, there will be weaknesses,' he said.
Indonesia has suffered a string of accidents in recent years, including an Adam Air plane crashing into the sea in January 2007 with 102 people on board.
In March 2007, a Garuda plane carrying 140 people burst into flames after skidding off a runway in Yogyakarta, killing 21 people. -- REUTERS
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