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Garuda is currently the only Indonesian carrier holding an IOSA safety rating. Bisnis Indonesia reports that the national flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia has earned IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) safety certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The Head of Communications for Garuda Indonesia, Pujobroto told the press that notification of acceptance and certification from IATA was received by the Airline in May 12, 2008. Pujobroto said, “with this acknowledgement, Garuda becomes the only operator in Indonesia who have fulfilled the standards of safety established by IOSA and IATA.”

Garuda has been under a continual schedule of safety audits since 2005 in its efforts to obtain the much-coveted IOSA certification. The official certification will be handed to Garuda at the annual meeting of IATA, scheduled to be held in Istanbul, Turkey June 1-3, 2008.

Of the 231 member carriers of IATA, 203 (88%) have earned IOSA certification.

IATA Urges Indonesia to Adopt Safety Audit Program

IATA CEO wants IOSA safety program made mandatory for all Indonesian airlines. The National News Agency Antara reports that the International Air Transport Association (IATA), is urging the Indonesian government to require all national airlines to adopt the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) program.

The Director General & CEO of IATA, Giovanni Bisignani, told the press in Jakarta that he was urging that the IOSA program be made mandatory for all Indonesian air carriers in order to make a significant change in-flight safety and security.

Bisignani said that since the blacklisting of all Indonesian-registered aircraft over European air space in June 2007, the entire international community has been closing monitoring developments affecting air safety in Indonesia.

“If Indonesia chooses IOSA as a mandatory program for all airlines that step will be seen as a positive signal to the international community that Indonesia is making significant changes,” Bisignani explained.

Bisignani told the press that his recommendation had already been delivered on February 21st to Indonesia’s Minister of Transportation, Syafii Djamal, who was said to be supportive of the move.

Bisignani said that IOSA is the highest standard for air safety in the world. “Moreover, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has acknowledged this, as have other agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),” he added.

Citing other countries who have made IOSA mandatory for their civil aviation operators, Bisignani listed Chile, Egypt, Turkey, Madagascar, the Arabian Civil Aviation Commission, Mexico and Costa Rica.

Countries in the process of adopting IOSA include Nigeria, Jordan, Tunisia, Hungary and the Latin American Aviation Commission.

Bisignani admitted there was not direct link between IOSA adoption and the removal of the current blacklisting of Indonesian aviation by the European Union.

In Indonesia, only Garuda Indonesia has passed the IOSA audit program while Mandala Airlines is currently enrolled in the ongoing audit process.

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