Has A Flying Taxi Service, Soekarno-Hatta Airport 11-12 With John F Kennedy New York

Heliport illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Soetta) now has flying taxi services using helicopters or helicity. With this service, Soetta Airport is considered parallel to major world airports such as John F.Kennedy, New York.

President Director of PT Whitesky Aviation Denon Prawiraatmadja said this service would not exist without the permission of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Therefore, as the operator of the helicity flying taxi, he is grateful for the provision of this service at Soetta Airport.

"This is a progress given by the Ministry of Transportation, so that our aviation industry can support the development of its multi-modalities," he said in a virtual discussion on APII Comes to You, Friday, February 26.

With this flying taxi service, said Denon, Soekarno-Hatta Airport is judged to be at the same level as John F.Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, United States (US). This is because both have a helicopter terminal (heliport).

"If I can compare it a little, Soekarno-Hatta Airport, which now has a heliport, is like JFK (John F.Kennedy), like New York, like France, where airports have heliports," he said.

According to Denon, Soetta Airport is the first airport in Indonesia to have a heliport with a connecting flight with a helicopter. In terms of services, Whitesky Aviation together with PT Angkasa Pura II have coordinated to provide supporting facilities at the heliport in accordance with the demands of flying taxi users.

"So I think that now we are adjusting to the current demand. Now the electricity is suitable, we also build the hangar facilities according to the current demand," he said.

Whiteskey Aviation, said Denon, is committed to providing services to the public, especially those who will use helicopters as access to Soetta Airport.

"Whether it's for VIP interests, for family interests, or for handling urgent medical activities, we have about four hospitals as our partners in Jakarta," he said.

Consider a promo program

Denon admits that he is considering spreading a promo program to ensure the use of this helicity service. Because, at certain hours of interest in this service are few.

"That's what we will try to offer to become a promo program. This is actually an opportunity for friends to see whether this value is quite affordable or not," he said.

Denon said, one way of providing promo programs on flying taxis is negotiating with the bank lessor or leasing to get competitive costs.

"I hope that in the future, when these helicopters are quite popular, of course the government banks or local banks will have an interest in participating with us in the procurement of these helicopters, of course the price will be more affordable in my opinion," he said.