Indonesia Allows 35 Foreign Aircraft to Fight Forest Fires

4 hours ago 2

August 24, 2026 | 02:55 pm

Forest and land fires in Kayong Utara Regency, West Kalimantan, July 31, 2026. Antara/Jessica Wuysang

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Ministry of Transportation has issued 35 permits for foreign-registered aircraft from nations including Russia and the United States to bolster land and forest fire management across several regions of the archipelago.

Director General of Air Transportation Lukman F. Laisa stated that the 35 permits cover 36 helicopters operated by 11 Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders across eight countries.

"[The aircraft originate from] Australia, Russia, the United States, Ukraine, New Zealand, Laos, Vietnam, and Canada," Lukman confirmed in Jakarta on Monday.

The ministry listed the 11 authorized operators as Ersa Eastern Aviation, Genesa Dirgantara, Falcon Patriot Utama, Pegasus Air Service, Whitesky Aviation, Smart Cakrawala Aviation, Elang Nusantara Air, Intan Angkasa Air Service, Volta Pasifik Aviasi, Dabi Air Nusantara, and Derazona Air Service.

The ministry is streamlining the deployment of foreign-registered aircraft to reinforce wildfire management through expedited licensing, operational support, and flight safety oversight.

Lukman emphasized that his office remains committed to backing ongoing firefighting operations in Kalimantan. "This includes easing the deployment of foreign-registered aircraft to support firefighting and disaster management efforts," he said.

Issuing these special permits is part of the effort to support the operational demands of wildfire suppression in several regions across Indonesia.

He explained that permitted foreign aircraft may be redeployed to other areas in need of emergency support, pursuant to Director General of Civil Aviation Decree No. KP 9/2021 on the Authorization of Foreign Aircraft Operations.

To ensure a swift response to rapidly shifting fire conditions, authorized aircraft can be dynamically repositioned to other disaster zones as needed. Operators are only required to notify the Directorate General of Civil Aviation within 24 hours of any such relocation.

This policy provides operational flexibility so air assets can be dispatched to high-priority zones while still adhering to applicable aviation safety and security regulations.

Meanwhile, the ministry's Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations maintains oversight and certification over airworthiness standards, including specialized modifications needed for firefighting maneuvers.

Once technical and airworthiness criteria are met, flight operations fall under the responsibility of the respective operators, governed by the terms of their individual AOCs.

Read: Prabowo Vows to Revoke Corporate Permits Over Land Burning

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

What Does Prabowo Say About Clearing Land by Burning?

2 jam lalu

What Does Prabowo Say About Clearing Land by Burning?

Prabowo Subianto has issued a strong warning over a land-clearing practice that has long been linked to Indonesia's forest and land fires.

Police: Suspects Burn Forests to Reduce Land Clearing Costs

5 jam lalu

Police: Suspects Burn Forests to Reduce Land Clearing Costs

The National Police's Bareskrim has named 72 suspects in forest burning cases across nine provinces since February 2026.

Prabowo Vows to Revoke Corporate Permits Over Land Burning

5 jam lalu

Prabowo Vows to Revoke Corporate Permits Over Land Burning

Prabowo says he is serious about revoking corporate permits over suspected land burning, while urging law enforcement to investigate companies.

South Kalimantan Forms Special Team to Tackle Fires at Three Priority Sites

6 jam lalu

South Kalimantan Forms Special Team to Tackle Fires at Three Priority Sites

South Kalimantan forms a special team to tackle fires at three priority sites covering 1,120 hectares, with a two-week target for containment.

Nearly 3,000 Fire Hotspots Detected Across Sumatra, BMKG Says

7 jam lalu

Nearly 3,000 Fire Hotspots Detected Across Sumatra, BMKG Says

BMKG detected 2,945 fire hotspots across Sumatra, with South Sumatra recording the highest number at 1,429 as smoke shrouded parts of Riau.

Prabowo to Inspect Forest Fire Response in Sumatra, Starting in Riau

8 jam lalu

Prabowo to Inspect Forest Fire Response in Sumatra, Starting in Riau

Palace confirms Prabowo will inspect forest fire response in Sumatra, starting in Riau, as fires spread across parts of the region.

Water Shortages, Strong Winds Hamper Kalimantan Forest Firefighting

11 jam lalu

Water Shortages, Strong Winds Hamper Kalimantan Forest Firefighting

Water shortages, difficult terrain and strong winds are hampering firefighting efforts in Kalimantan, Indonesia, during the dry season.

Police Seize Fuel, Oil Palm Seedlings in Forest Fire Investigation

11 jam lalu

Police Seize Fuel, Oil Palm Seedlings in Forest Fire Investigation

Indonesian police seized fuel and oil palm seedlings while investigating suspected intentional forest fires in nine regions.

Indonesia's Palace Denies Haji Isam Appointment as Kalimantan Forest Fire Coordinator

12 jam lalu

Indonesia's Palace Denies Haji Isam Appointment as Kalimantan Forest Fire Coordinator

Indonesia's Presidential Palace denies reports that Prabowo appointed businessman Haji Isam to coordinate forest fire response in Kalimantan.

Indonesian Police Name 72 Suspects in Forest Fire Cases Across Nine Regions

12 jam lalu

Indonesian Police Name 72 Suspects in Forest Fire Cases Across Nine Regions

Indonesia's police have named 72 suspects in forest & land fire cases across nine regions and are investigating possible financiers & corporate links.

Read Entire Article