FIR Agreement With Singapore Increases Indonesia's Area By 249,575 Km2

Photo: BPMI Setpres/Laily Rachev

JAKARTA - The agreement on the Re-alignment Flight Information Region (FIR) or Air Navigation Service Area Adjustment between Indonesia and Singapore on January 25, 2022, has been carefully prepared. The government guarantees to provide positive benefits for Indonesia.

This affirmation was conveyed by the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi when he was a keynote speaker at the Salemba 75 Discussion Forum Webinar with the theme "Measuring the Indonesia-Singapore Flight Information Region (FIR) Agreement, Is it Beneficial for Indonesia?", organized by the UI Alumni Association (ILUNI UI) and the Air Law Society (MHU), on Sunday, February 6, 2022.

Indonesia's efforts to end the status quo of air space over the Riau and Natuna Islands have been carried out since 1995 and were carried out even more vigorously in 2015 under the leadership of President Joko Widodo.

"The President advised that this effort must be prepared as neatly and as quickly as possible, in negotiating with Singapore. And Indonesia's leadership in the international arena has authority, so that a number of meetings are bilateral with Singapore, as well as multilaterally with ICAO member countries and internationally, even though it is going to be tough, but in the end, it can provide good results for both countries and also for the international community," said the Minister of Transportation as quoted by the ministry.

With the agreement to adjust the FIR which is the implementation of the mandate of Law Number 1 of 2009 concerning Aviation, it provides a number of positive benefits for Indonesia. One of them is the increase in the area of the Indonesian FIR by 249,575 km2, which is internationally recognized as part of the Jakarta FIR, which is one of the Indonesian FIRs in addition to the Ujung Pandang/Makassar FIR.

"We did not do this effort alone, but thanks to the joint efforts of various related Ministries/Institutions including: Kemenkomarinvest, Kemenlu, Kemenhan, TNI, State Secretariat, Regency Secretariat, and other related elements. I respect the extraordinary international diplomacy that has been carried out," said the Minister of Transportation.

The Minister of Transportation revealed that this FIR adjustment is an aspect that cannot be separated between Indonesia and the international community. Comprehensive observation is the key, especially related to technical aspects, safety, international compliance, and international best practice.

The Minister of Transportation gave an example, Brunei Darussalam was delegated to FIR Malaysia, as well as Christmas Island in Australia was delegated to FIR Jakarta. There are at least 55 countries in the world that delegate the management of FIR to other countries for flight safety.

The Minister of Transportation said that the government openly accepts the differences in views from a number of parties that raise pros and cons regarding the FIR agreement.

In the future, the Minister of Transportation said that he would form a small team that would involve a number of parties, including experts, academics, practitioners, and other related elements to conduct constructive discussions on FIR.

"This is done so that there is a common view of FIR, and we can get positive input to create a balance between Indonesia's sovereign interests and aviation safety interests that have been regulated and agreed upon by international rules," said the Minister of Transportation.

ILUNI UI Chairperson Andre Rahadian assessed that the bilateral Flight Information Region (FIR) agreement with Singapore was important and strategic for Indonesia.

“The FIR arrangement is one of three agreements signed during the 2022 Leaders Retreat. The other two agreements are military training and extradition agreements. ILUNI UI sees these three agreements as strategic matters in the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Singapore," said Andre.

Apart from that, according to Andre, the FIR arrangement is also seen as significant progress. From a military perspective, Indonesia no longer needs to report and ask for clearance to Singapore.

"And also in terms of safety, this service can still be improved because MHU sees that this is an aviation security service," he added.

Expert on Foreign Policy and National Defense Dr. Connie Rahakunidi Bakrie said that she appreciated the efforts of the Indonesian government to make an agreement to adjust the FIR with Singapore. She explained that FIR is closely related to sovereignty, the national defense which also has an air space area called the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).