One day after Anniversary of National Transportation Day (HARHUBNAS) on September 17 with great fanfare and enthusiasm throughout the live mode transportation directorates in Indonesia, the theme for every stakeholder was the determination to revive Indonesian transportation modes and services with all the strategies, collaboration and efficiency being launched. Suddenly viral on Tik-Tok media, YouTube, IG etc. on September 18 2023 at 07:15 the electricity supply/network at Terminal III of the Indonesian capital airport – Jakarta, Cengkareng Banten broke down so that all airport facilities starting from lights, air condition, lifts, Escalator, Travelator including the Checkin Counter server for each Airlines and Security Check, Immigration cannot be used.
Reminiscent of the Black-Out incident at the same place (Terminal III) before and shortly after it was inaugurated in 2019 for more than 30 minutes, this time it was more than 1 and half hours. This is the longest record at a class airport in the nation’s capital. As a citizen, I feel embarrassed, annoyed and angry at the airport services at the country’s gateway which is managed by one of the well-known state-owned companies in Indonesia but does not have good management.
The flow of state electricity from the Java Banten network was not problematic until before the network entered the airport. This has been confirmed by PLN Banten Branch. However, for this to happen a second time, it shows that the management was not prepared to anticipate something similar. The provision of a Generator Set (GENSET) has indeed been prepared for this, but the first incident was that it did not cover usage only in Terminal III, it was repaired quickly so that the blackout was only 30 minutes. But this time, apart from possibly being overloaded with usage, it was maintenance that caused outages for more than 40 minutes. What we know is that the GENSET functions as a UPS so that it automatically works within seconds if the flow from PLN is disconnected and is connected (ON) again automatically when the PLN flow is reconnected. GENSET functions as a temporary back-up for the country’s electricity supply.
Blackout incident in 2017,
At the time of the incident, PLN’s electricity supply to Soekarno Hatta Airport was in normal condition with a total supply capacity of 65 MW, while currently the need for the entire Soekarno Hatta Airport is around 36 MW.
“The supply from PLN is safe, at the time of the incident we immediately carried out an inspection of the AP II network. From the results of the inspection, the entire network and supply were in prime condition,” said Head of PLN’s Corporate Communications Unit, I Made Suprateka in a statement in Jakarta.
Overall, Soekarno-Hatta Airport’s supply has quite high security or reliability because it is supplied from 2 different sub systems, namely Lontar-Kembangan and Muara Karang- Gandul through 3 main substations (GI), namely Cengkareng, Tanggerang GI and Teluk Naga GI.
The supply is via 4 Medium Voltage (TM) feeder channels which are then distributed through the Substation.
The initial planning and changes to the use of electrical equipment at Soetta airport have probably never been evaluated or added to the load since 2017, with the initial capacity before the construction of terminal III at Soekarno Hatta / CGK airport of 35 MW for Terminals I and II of 35 MW, but from that time running from 2017 to September 2023 the power has reached 65 MW, the addition of electronic device users from consumers is very high.
Based on information from the PLN corporation, there was a problem with the PLN supply system for a few minutes, but it was resolved in around 5 minutes, there should not have been a significant blackout because when the PLN supply was cut off, the airport management’s UPS / GENSET automatically worked and when the supply from PLN returned to normal, all electricity flow returned. on PLN supply.
Several theories that can be used as an analysis of the causes of long blackouts are that when the PLN is disconnected, the UPS Switching System will work / ON but turns out it is not working or OFF. When the PLN supply returns to normal, the Switching system is not automatically ON, so it can be concluded that the UPS Switch is not in position. Automatic.
Several experts state this, the reason that can be concluded is that the GENSET or UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) is not in Standby condition.
It is a very urgent matter for the management to pay attention to the fact that an international airport and the gateway to the nation’s capital will be less good if the facilities and electrical system are not in accordance with the service to air transportation users.
The consequences of a blackout lasting more than 40 minutes are:
1. The check-in counter service for international flights cannot be carried out, because the airline’s server system is down.
2. The air condition of all waiting rooms is not functioning and security checks are carried out manually, including public facilities (escalators, travelators) that use electricity.
3. Multi flyer effect related to delays from the originator Airport of Indonesia on international flights. In general, as a result of this, many passengers traveling between airports are disrupted, even flight schedule connectivity and SLOT time settings are also disrupted.
So that there are no delays caused by similar things, it should be:
1. Airport managers must pay attention to facilities and equipment through routine maintenance.
2. Management creates SOPs related to this, such as opening boarding access doors and other emergencies.
3. Every airline can set up a UPS on every server and network. Including your own needs such as preparing an Internet Provider modem.
Services is on top priority.
