By: Moch. Irfandi )*
Every time, there is a military plane crash, always comes the call to Air Force aircraft maintenance audit and pay attention. Similarly, after a series of C-130H Hercules crashed in Wamena, Papua. The call remains necessary, but it is far more important is to implement in earnest the appeal.
It is too easy to blame the weather or difficult terrain in Papua as the cause of the accident that killed 13 people. Allegations that military officials should be seriously substantiated. Human error factor is too hard to imagine. Who flew it was the instructor Major Airmen Marlon Kawer Ardiles. It includes the best aviators. Marlon also frequently sent abroad on a mission of trust, such as in China and Lebanon, or training together in Australia.
Accident on Sunday morning and then classified as controlled flight into terrain or low striking the earth. The cause may be unconscious pilot to the situation or there is weakness in aircraft devices. Clearly, the plane was already relatively old. Hercules is the unfortunate fact that one in 10 second-hand aircraft purchased from Australia. The aircraft is already 34 years old when retired Australian Air Force in 2012.
A97-005 Hercules aircraft whose original name was later purchased Indonesian-era Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro at a price of 25 percent of the new price. For Australia, the cost was calculated instead of the cost of repair and repaint. Aircraft purchase secondhand indeed save money. But the risk is enormous, especially to be used for 20 years.
The Ministry of Transportation has recently determined that the passenger plane were allowed to operate a maximum of 30 years old. This rule does not apply to military aircraft. But the Air Force should also limit the use of old military aircraft. Military aircraft re-audit needs to be done. Similarly, calls for attention to aircraft maintenance as delivered by President Joko Widodo.
All too often, a military plane crash occurred. Last year, Hercules C-130 crashed in Medan also by the number of casualties 39 military personnel and 83 civilians. In the period 2010-2016 recorded 47 plane crash owned by the TNI. The largest is the helicopter (about 50 percent), followed by combat aircraft (28 percent), and the rest is transport aircraft and training aircraft.
The Government needs to reconsider the idea of buying a used aircraft. Even if the budget remains minimal, it would be much better to buy new stuff despite smaller amounts. The budget for maintenance and aircraft spare parts also must be considered.
Do not let the best soldiers become victims again just because we do not seriously examine the feasibility and the best care for our military.
)* Author is CIDISS Contributor