Young Lion Air pilots express confidence in safety training following recent crash, airline's reputation

Record ID: 1363513

  • Title: Young Lion Air pilots express confidence in safety training following recent crash, airline's reputation
  • Date: 8th November 2018
  • Summary: TANGERANG, BANTEN, INDONESIA (NOVEMBER 2, 2018) (REUTERS) HANDS CONTROLLING AIRPLANE SIMULATOR'S TILLER VARIOUS OF TRAINEE PILOT FLYING AIRPLANE SIMULATOR FLIGHT NOTES INSTRUCTOR ADJUSTING SWITCHES SIMULATION OF LANDING LION AIR TRAINEE PILOT, FADIL ARAFAT (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) LION AIR TRAINEE PILOT, FADIL ARAFAT, SAYING: "When we want to become pilots (for an airline) after coming out of flight school, we need to go through ground school for about six months and learn PPL (Private Pilot Licence), CPL (Commercial Pilot License), and AR (Augmented Reality), then afterwards we continue to flight training. After we graduate we continue with training with the airline." FLIGHT SIMULATOR MACHINE SIMULATOR FOR THE BOEING 737 SERIES PLANES SIMULATOR MOVING LION AIR TRAINEE PILOT, LUCKY ADHI SATRIO (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) LION AIR TRAINEE PILOT, LUCKY ADHI SATRIO, SAYING: "Even though being a pilot has many risks, I won't be afraid because I will do everything thoroughly and according to procedures for the sake of the passengers' safety." COPILOT IN SIMULATOR VARIOUS OF FLIGHT RADAR COPILOT READING CHECK LIST FROM OPERATIONS MANUAL OPERATIONS MANUAL AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENT TRAINER CAPTAIN SITTING BEHIND TRAINEES LION AIR'S ANGKASA TRAINING CENTER PRINCIPAL, DIBYO SOESILO, ENTERING SIMULATOR ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) ANGKASA TRAINING CENTER PRINCIPAL, DIBYO SOESILO, SAYING: "We start with fixed-base simulations, meaning simulations which are immobile and passive. They delve deeper into the IBT (Instructor-Based Training) phase and to other locations in the simulator, to prepare for the next process. This comprises of three sessions. And then they go on to the full flight simulator or FFS, where they learn all cases, all procedures, in each type (of aircraft). So, nothing is missed." LION AIR MANAGING DIRECTOR, DANIEL PUTUT, SITTING WITH REPORTERS PUTUT LISTENING TO QUESTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) LION AIR MANAGING DIRECTOR, DANIEL PUTUT, SAYING: "We follow the regulatory standards. So, we follow our regulator, our CASR (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations) told us about the maximum hours for pilots (each month) is 110, then we go through it. So, we comply with this regulation. You can check through our data." TRAINEE PILOTS SITTING IN CLASS INSTRUCTOR GIVING LECTURE ON SAFETY STUDENTS LISTENING TO INSTRUCTOR STUDENTS WITH TABLET TABLET SHOWING PLANE'S ANATOMY DENPASAR, BALI, INDONESIA (NOVEMBER 4, 2018) (REUTERS) AIRPLANE ON RUNWAY TECHNICIANS GOING THROUGH DOCUMENTS ON THE TARMAC VARIOUS OF TECHNICIANS CHECKING PLANE AND GOING THROUGH PROCEDURES (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) HEAD OF NGURAH RAI AIRPORT AUTHORITY, HERSON, SAYING: "The first thing we check is administration and then technical issues. Administration includes certifications, and flight log book from beginning to end, there must be a history on those. And then technical issues include the body of the aircraft, wheels, engine, and everything else required for checking. If there are items declared faulty and in need of repair, there will be remarks or recommendations." TECHNICIANS BESIDE AIRCRAFT ENGINE PILOT INSIDE COCKPIT
  • Embargoed: 22nd November 2018 08:34
  • Keywords: Indonesia pilot school Lion Air safety regulations trainee pilots managing director
  • Location: TANGERANG, BANTEN AND DENPASAR, BALI, INDONESIA
  • City: TANGERANG, BANTEN AND DENPASAR, BALI, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Air Accidents,Disaster/Accidents
  • Reuters ID: LVA00195N9RUT
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: It was lessons as usual for students of the Lion Air-run pilot school Angkasa Training Center, who were going through a Boeing 737 simulated landing just four days after the fatal flight that claimed all 189 lives on board.
    The crash of a Lion Air jet on Oct. 29 into the sea off Jakarta has put a spotlight back on the airline's safety record, although the cause of the crash remains undetermined.
    Trainee pilots with Lion Air who spoke to Reuters rattled off the various certifications they were trying to attain while expressing confidence that their safety training is adequate for their future careers.
    Potential pilots who had graduated from vocational schools or flight schools go directly into Angkasa Training Center and pursue further pilot education for around 18 months. After which, they start jet simulation training and four months later, they could be tested to qualify for flying.
    This process, which takes on average 2 years, results in a relatively young batch of graduates. These graduates go on to attain a pilot certification by flying as a first officer for up to 100 hours. They will then need to clock at least 3000 more flying hours, to be considered for a promotion to a captain. Still, oftentimes those qualified to be promoted to captain could be as young as being in their early 20s, with up to four years of experience.
    Angkasa's principal, Captain Dibyo Soesilo, contended that "nothing is missed" when soon-to-be pilots were put through rigourous simulation sessions covering all possible scenarios before they were allowed to fly.
    Since a non-fatal crash in Bali in 2013, Lion Air has sought to improve safety by gaining European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for its pilot training and maintenance facilities. The budget airline was taken off a European Union blacklist in 2016 after the EU determined it met international safety standards. None of Indonesia's roughly 100 airlines - most of them tiny - remain on the EU blacklist.
    Indonesia's civil aviation safety regulator mandates that a pilot is allowed to fly a maximum of 110 hours a month, above the 100-hour standard for many other countries. Two Indonesian pilots told Reuters on condition of anonymity that it was common for Lion Air pilots to fly beyond the permitted limit by using an unofficial log book.
    Lion Air Managing Director Daniel Putut, a former pilot and Lion Air's managing director, said that the carrier complied with all regulatory requirements.
    But its latest crisis illustrates the challenge relatively new carriers face as they try to keep pace with unstoppable demand for air travel in developing nations while striving for standards that mature markets took decades to reach.
    The privately-owned budget carrier was founded in 1999. Its aircraft have been involved in at least 15 safety incidents and it has been placed under tougher international safety restrictions than other Indonesian airlines. It will now be subjected to more intensive inspections than other airlines, authorities said.
    Indonesian President Joko Widodo had also ordered a review of all flight safety regulations.
    Indonesia is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, but its safety record has been patchy. Its transport safety panel investigated 137 serious aviation incidents from 2012 to 2017.
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