JAKARTA—The National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), along with professional associations, organized the Aero Summit 2018. This event, held in collaboration with industry stakeholders, research bodies, and educational institutions, marks a significant step towards realizing the Making Indonesia 4.0 initiative.
Dadang Furqon Erawan, Chairman of the Aero Summit 2018 Coordination Council, emphasized the importance of this year as a crucial momentum for implementing Making Indonesia 4.0 across all industrial clusters in Indonesia. “The aerospace industry is taking immediate action to embrace Industry 4.0,” he said in a written statement to journalists on Sunday (23/9).
The aerospace industry is synergizing and consolidating to secure RD&D (Research, Development, and Demonstration) and CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) incentives for technology investments. The era of Industry 4.0 demands a large number of competent human resources.
In response, the aerospace industry cluster is collaborating to prepare a skilled workforce through extensive vocational education programs to enhance and update skills across all relevant sectors. These programs include numerous workshops and training sessions in scientific fields that are pillars of Industry 4.0, aligning with the Making Indonesia 4.0 framework launched by President Joko Widodo.
Currently, innovation centers such as LAPAN, PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI), PT Regio Aviasi Industri (RAI), and various aerospace industry clusters are driving the establishment of special aerospace industry zones within the country. The team has also urged the government of President Jokowi to pay greater and more concrete attention to the development of the aerospace industry cluster, potentially through more progressive policies and tangible incentives.
One of the ways to accelerate the transformation of the aerospace industry cluster towards an Industry 4.0 ecosystem is by organizing events like the Aero Summit. Strengthening the role of business associations in the aerospace industry, such as the Indonesia Aeronautical Engineering Center (IAEC), Indonesia Aircraft Component Manufacturer Association (INACOM), Indonesia Aircraft Maintenance Service Association (IAMSA), PT DI, PT RAI, and GMF AeroAsia, is essential. These entities collaborate with research institutions like LAPAN, BPPT, and universities to formulate a grand vision and updated roadmap for the industry.
“All of this is aimed at creating an ideal ecosystem for developing products, business volume, and capturing local and global market potential that has not been realized so far,” Dadang explained.
The Aero Summit also featured the sixth Science and Technology Aerospace Seminar (ISAST) themed “Aeronautics and Space Technology Research and Industry Development.” ISAST has been held since 2013, serving as a platform for exchanging the latest information and seeking collaboration opportunities with universities and strategic industries in Indonesia and globally. The summit’s theme was “Facilitating Synergy in the Aerospace Industry.”
In facing the era of Industry 4.0, air connectivity is a crucial factor in the economy of nations worldwide. According to projections by the International Air Transport Association, the five countries with the largest aviation markets in the world are China, the United States, India, Indonesia, and Turkey.
The aviation market is growing rapidly, driven by the high growth of the middle class. Trends indicate that by 2036, Indonesia will become the fourth-largest aviation market in the world, with a total of 355 million air passengers. China’s aviation market is projected to be the largest, surpassing the United States, with 1.5 billion passengers by 2036. The US will be second with 1.1 billion passengers, while India will be third with 478 million passengers. Turkey will hold the fifth position with 196 million air passengers.
Given these trends and the density of Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK), Indonesia must prepare to seize opportunities and become more competitive in developing its aerospace industry cluster.
In this context, Indonesia is strategically located in the Asia-Pacific zone, which has the highest RPK traffic density in the world, at 36%. This percentage surpasses Europe (20%), North America (17%), and the Middle East (13%).
Based on these indicators, Airbus Industries predicts that by 2033, Indonesia will rank among the top ten countries ordering the most aircraft. Given these credible predictions and projections by global consultants and corporations, the government and aerospace industry players must move quickly to seize the opportunities.
“It’s time to improve the grand vision and national strategy so that all stakeholders will have the same perspective and follow the roadmap with a strong spirit of synergy,” Dadang said.
Totok Siswantara, Public Relations of Aero Summit 2018, explained that the Aero Summit 2018 was held on September 25-26, 2018, at the Kartika Chandra Hotel, Jalan Jendral Gatot Subroto Kav. 18-20, Jakarta.
The Aero Summit 2018 was opened with participation from various ministries (Kemenristek Dikti, Kemenhub, Kemenperin) and attended by government research institutions, aerospace industry practitioners, entrepreneurs, researchers, innovators, and academics. The event was also supported by global corporations such as AIRBUS Industries, which sent a delegation for aerospace industry development.
Totok stated that Aero Summit 2018 included several activities, such as the International Seminar (ISAST), panel discussions with keynote speakers from the cabinet ministers, focus group forums, and workshops to achieve the transformation and strengthening of the aerospace industry cluster towards Industry 4.0.
“Achieving a strong air bridge and national space technology advancement is the dream of Indonesia’s founding fathers,” Totok said.
The progressive development of air transportation infrastructure is being carried out by the government. However, it must be accompanied by the development of the domestic aerospace industry cluster.
Additionally, aviation technology research and development need to be solidified with various quick-win programs related to the aerospace cluster, such as the national aircraft design programs N219, R80, N219 Amphibi, N245, and the KFX/IFX fighter jet program.
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