Jakarta, (Antara) - President Joko Widodo wants Indonesia to take over the management of Flight Information Region (FIR) of ABC block from Singapore and Malaysia.
The president wants to make preparation by improving the equipment before the take over "that we could control all flights in our space," Transport Minister Iqnatius Jonan said .
Until now the FIR of ABC block over the Natuna islands that borders on Singapore and to the east in North Kalimantan bordering on Malaysia, is still managed by Singapore and Malaysia, Ignatius told a news conference here on Tuesday.
"Preparations would take 3-4 years. We also need to talk with Singapore and Malaysia. We will take over when we are ready. Hopefully all is going well," he said.
Military chief Gen Gatot Nurmantyo said based on Annex 11 article 2 point 1 , FIR could be given to other countries but limited only to operation of air navigation court
"Singapore determines 'danger area' and only for safety not for military purpose," Gatot said.
The general said it is against the annex if military exercise was held over those areas without approval from Indonesia.
"The Indonesian military (TNI), therefore, always takes security measure by patrolling and would warn any foreign military aircraft flying over that areas or chase them away," he said. (*)
