BRIEF NOTES

SILKAIR INCREASE FLIGHTS -- SilkAir of Singapore plans to increase its frequency flights to Mataram./Foto:Angkasa/D.N.Yusuf

SilkAir of Singapore plans to increase its frequency flights between Mataram of West Nusa Tenggara and Singapore to accommodate an expected upswing in demand for air transportation between the two points, said a company spokesman medio September.

So far, the Singaporean airline had been flying its Mataram-Singapore v.v. route four times a day but it was now planning to increase the frequency to six times per day by March 2001, Soepit Arief Bharata, head of the airline's customer services in Mataram, Lombok Island said to Antara news agency.

The route would then be served using Airbus A319 planes which would each have a seating capacity for 12 business class and 102 economy class passengers. Ïf the numbers of passengers prove to be higher than expected, we could use Airbus A320 which have a seating for 16 in business class and 126 in economy class. Unfortunately, there is still no landing strip for A320s in West Nusa Tenggara," Bharata said.

However according to Bharata, if Mataram's Selaparang airport's landing strip could meanwhile be upgraded to accommodate Airbus A320, SilkAir could switch to the bigger plane as early as October 2000.

SilkAir began operating direct international flights between Mataram and Singapore on July 23, 1999 using Fokker F-70s capable of carrying 78 economy class passengers.

On load factor, Bharata said it was almost 80 percent for flights from Singapore to Mataram. While the figure for flights in reverse direction was much lower.

But 60 percent of passengers going from Singapore to Mataram were Indonesian workers employed in Malaysia and the rest tourists. But during the tourist peak season, the ratio reversed. Bharata said SilkAir believed its Mataram-Singapore service had bright prospects as Lombok and Bali islands were established tourist destinations that were being continuously developed. (ds)

WING GARUDA -- Commemorating Wing Garuda 011 anniversary, Chief of Staff Air Marshall Hanafie Asnan gave an honored wing to 108 of its members./Foto:Angkasa/D.N.Yusuf

To commemorate the anniversary of Wing Garuda 011, Chief of Staff Air Marshal Hanafie Asnan, award an honored wing to 108 members of Wing Garuda 011 in Air Force headquarter last September.

Wing Garuda 011 was a civillian force that involved in Air Force mission in 1958-1966, which during those time PRRI/Permesta rebellion activities were at large in Indonesia and the Trikora Operations were underway. Due the situation, the Highest Military Command (KOTI) formed Garuda Wing 011 that was composed of Garuda Indonesian Airways pilots and were functioned as a back-up for Indonesian Air Force (AURI).

This civilian force was assigned to perform spy flight, troops dropping, logistic dropping, administrations/personnel carrier, commando control from aircraft and weather censor, also to perform SAR mission.

During those missions, these civilian pilots had to face danger and they dare to stake their life while head-on with enemy fighter such as Hawker MK-06, Firely AS-4, Neptune P2V-7 and B-26 Invader bomber. And because of the mission risk, this mission was so called "one way ticket flight".

However, even though they were civilian and "only" a backup force, members of Garuda Wing 011 never gave up. In spite of their aircraft that were just DC-3 Dakota, Sky Train, and Convair 240, they all had a high spirit in defending the country.

Thanks to their fighting spirit, these pilots succeeded in infiltrating the enemy's defense system. "Such a thrilled flight we did during those time," said one of the pilots, Flight Major Roekanto Djokomono. "Especially when we had to cross a thick forest and wild water," he added.

According to Cartono Soejatman, another member of Wing Garuda 011, the reward makes him and his friends feel unforgotten to the young generation. (ron/don)