Happy Holidays 2015!!!

Indonesian Aerospace introduces the new N219, locally built aircraft

Indonesian aerospace company
introduces new homegrown
aircraft

thejakartapost.com | Business | Fri, December 11 2015, 1:24 PM

A N219 aircraft designed by PT Dirgantara Indonesia at an assembly facility. The aircraft is considered to be a suitable vehicle for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to use to travel around Indonesia. (Kompas.com/Reska K. Nistanto)

State-owned aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) has introduced the new N219, an aircraft entirely designed by local engineers and suitable for travel around the archipelago.

International Civil Aviation Association (ICAO) special envoy Indroyono Soesilo said he was proud to present the work of local engineers and their contribution to the world of aviation technology.

“The 19-seat N219 is the final contribution of Indonesian aerospace engineers from PTDI's 1970s and 1980s generation. Its system integrity, navigation systems and all its technology are all original Indonesian made,” Indroyono said as quoted by Kompas.com.

He said that he hoped this would inspire a new generation of engineers in the nation and continue the process of knowledge transfer from experienced PTDI engineers to the new generation.

Former employees of PTDI who had moved on to work at leading aviation companies such as Boeing, Bombardier, Bell or ATR should pass on their experiences and skills to young aspiring engineers, Indroyono continued.

These former employees had spread across the globe creating a diaspora of Indonesian aviation technology specialists, he added.

“If it is not taught to the young, the ability of Indonesians to design airplanes will eventually cease," said Indroyono. (liz/dan)(+
)

Swedish article about one of the girls flying for Susi Air!

If you understand Swedish or have a good command of Google Translate, then check out this article from a Swedish newspaper about Elin, one of the many women working for Susi Air, flying in Papua:

http://weekend.di.se/reportage/med-livet-som-insats-8

Although the majority of pilots in Susi Air are male, there are more and more women joining the ranks and doing some of the most challenging and exciting flying in the world. Elin is one of them!

Volcano forces fresh shut down of Bali airport

Although Susi Air do not fly to Denpasar on a regular basis, it seems that volcanic activity from Mt.Raung is still causing some serious headaches for the aviation business in Bali.

Agence France-Presse, Denpasar, Indonesia | National | Wed, July 22 2015, 2:35 PM 

Ash spewing from a volcano closed the airport on the Indonesian resort island of Bali Wednesday for the third time this month, forcing the cancellation of flights and stranding tourists during peak holiday season.

Mount Raung on Indonesia's main island of Java, which has been rumbling for weeks, sent an ash cloud floating over Bali that closed the island's Ngurah Rai airport, the transport ministry said.

Two small airports on Java serving domestic routes were also shut down, it added.

"Due to volcanic ash from Mount Raung, the Ngurah Rai airport is temporarily closed again from midday (0500 GMT)," ministry spokesman J. A. Barata told AFP. "We don't know when it will reopen, we will monitor the situation."

Volcanic ash from Raung had already closed Bali's international airport two times this month, between July 9 and 12, forcing almost 900 flights to be cancelled or delayed and creating a backlog that took days to clear.

The shutdown on Bali, a top holiday destination that attracts millions of visitors from around the world to its palm-fringed beaches every year, has come during one of the busiest times of the year for the tourist industry.

The latest shutdown will also cause major disruption for domestic tourists, as millions are making their way back home after going away for last week's Muslim holiday of Eid.

Australian airlines Virgin Australia and Jetstar said they were cancelling flights on Wednesday to and from Bali, a favourite holiday destination for Australians. It was not immediately clear how many flights would be cancelled by the new airport closure.

Indonesian government vulcanologist Gede Suantika said Raung was shooting out ash 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) into the air on Wednesday, and the wind was blowing it southeast towards Bali.

Air traffic is regularly disrupted by volcanic eruptions in Indonesia, which sits on a belt of seismic activity running around the basin of the Pacific Ocean and is home to the highest number of active volcanoes in the world at around 130.

The main concern for airlines regarding volcanic ash is not that it can affect visibility but rather that it could damage aircraft, as ash turns into molten glass when it is sucked into jet engines, according to experts. (ika)(++++)

- See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/07/22/volcano-forces-fresh-shutdown-bali-airport.html#sthash.BqluWnTV.dpuf

Update on entry requirements

Hi all!

There seems to have been a bit of confusion as to entry requirements for a F/O position with Susi Air in the last few months since Christmas. It used to be that 200 hours would get you an interview, unfortunately those days seem to be long gone.

Due to new legislation from the Indonesian DGCA in an effort to stem P2F (which does not affect Susi Air at all) requirements for non-citizens has been raised to 750 hours total time!

See the text below which i borrowed from a well known forum:

C208 FO Prerequisites 2015

Thank you for your interest in Susi Air.
Susi Air will receive any pilot application all year long but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview or intake when necessary depends on company needs.
Susi Air is adopting the regulations of Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation as the basic requirement for employment and adds up with other company's requirements.


CAT 1. For Indonesian Passport Holder with Indonesian License:
CPL holderHold a First Class medical (current or not).Hold an FAA license or has minimum 750 hours.Copy of logbook in the last three months with verification stamp or signature from chief pilot or flight instructor.Minimum of level 5 ICAO English proficiency test.Comprehensive CVID (KTP or Passport)For non Ab-Initio/ experienced pilot must attached an accident and incident-free report from DGCA.

CAT 2. For Indonesian Passport Holder with Non-Indonesian License 

All requirements on CAT 1Foreign license must be current on SEL and IRHave a copy of examiner's report or check form of the latest flight review/ flight test/ re-validation/ proficiency check and still valid for at least 6 months.License verification letter with current information from authority AND accident/incident-free report from authority is a must. 

CAT 3. For Non-Indonesian Passport Holder:
Minimum total hours of 750 aircraft time.at least ICAO CPL SEL and IR (current). FAA mother license is preferable.Have a copy of examiner's report or check form of the latest flight review/ check ride/ proficiency check of the SEL rating and still valid for at least 6 months.First Class medical (current), no restriction except for corrective glasses.License verification letter with current information from authority AND accident and incident-free report from authority.Copy of logbook in the last three months with verification stamp or signature from chief pilot or flight instructor.Free from any form of color blindness and passed the Ishihara Color Test - Indonesian authority only accept the Ishihara Color Blind Test.Minimum of level 5 ICAO English proficiency test.Valid passport minimum 24 months leftComprehensive CV.

All pilot applications must be submitted by e-mail to recruiting@susiair.com

It looks like it is getting harder and harder for newbies to get a foothold in the industry, even more so now as Susi Air was one of the last few opportunities for zero hours guys.

Good luck all the same and happy landings! 

Happy Easter and Happy job hunting!

Continued pilot shortage in SE Asia

An interesting read in The Jakarta Globe. Although operators have been crying out for crew for the last few years, it is important to understand that there is a lack of suitably qualified pilots (type rated, jet experience and a minimum of 500 hours on type) and not young ab-initio guys.

Susi Air is continuously recruiting new first officers and will continue to do so for the remainder of 2015. As a minimum it seems like the requirement is at least 250 hours total time, but pilots with 700 hours + will be given priority as they are looking for potential quick upgrade candidates.

Asia is running out of pilots

Good luck with the job hunt!