The development of the world, which has lasted for almost three years due to the COVID-19 storm, is now starting to rebound, and therefore the reference before the occurrence of this devastating shock is a reference for future aviation developments. Armed with the highest data and progress obtained, Indonesia in 2018 will become a benchmark for aviation success that must be achieved again.

The prospects for Indonesian aviation are expected not only to rely on the concept of continent-based thinking, but also to be based on archipelago thinking. rotary wing, airplanes and helicopters, with medium size and light aircraft.

Referring to the statement by the Minister of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia at the Rotary Wing Conference event, 26 – 27 September 2018, at the JW Marriot Hotel Jakarta, it was conveyed that air transportation must be able to reach “ends”. This means that fixed wing and rotary wing air transportation, airplanes, and helicopters must be able to reach and land in the 3 T (Front-Remote-Left) areas.

This means implementing flights to the 3T areas which play an important role are aircraft with medium and light classes. We should not focus only on bi wide body airplanes (fixed wing / airplanes). There is still a lot of “space” or opportunities that can be maximized. One of the potentials that has not yet been maximized is the potential for medical and commercial helicopter evaluation flights.

Some time ago, the Indonesian Helicopter Pilots Association (APHI) together with the Indonesian Pilots Federation, held an audience with the chairman of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR-RI), conveying that there is one constitutional mandate, namely article 34 (3) of the 45th Constitution, which states that the state is responsible for providing adequate health service facilities and public facilities. The question is what about health services in 3T areas?

In countries like Malaysia, Australia, South Africa and other countries to provide health services, they carry out a program called “Helicopter Flying Doctor”. What about Indonesia?? To implement this constitutional mandate, the use of helicopters is one of the solutions. This was strongly supported by the Chairman of the MPR-RI.

In addition to the rescue and health missions for the community, there are also many tourism spots that cannot be reached by ordinary modes of transportation. It is hoped that passengers from the airport can be directly connected to tourism spot areas, thus opportunities for industries that have not been maximized can be filled and fulfilled, by creating connecting flights from the airport using helicopters, scheduled air charters.

Everything can be connected, side by side, because basically helicopters are made with multipurpose, multifunction and multimission purposes. 24/7 Day and flight, able to reach areas that cannot be landed by airplanes.

There is hope from the current government’s response which plans to involve aviation to support toll roads in terms of fast medical evacuation in the event of an accident or other matters requiring medical assistance. This has been done a lot in other developed countries, Helicopter medical evacuation (medivac) and Helicopter air ambulance.

Helicopters are very appropriate for solving problems that require a quick response. Its existence is not about the numbers, but IT is all about the value of a benefit principle, a need for time (urgency) to evaluate victims to the nearest hospital due to an accident or other matters that require immediate medical assistance.

Technically, this type of flight only requires a rather specific type of helicopter and special training for the pilots, especially accommodating 24/7 round the clock response time, racing against human golden time. The existence of this medivac helicopter is also based on the idea: If you save one soul, IT seems like you have saved the whole mankind.

So once again the existence of “Helicopter medivac supporting toll road” is not a matter of numbers but it’s all about value, the value of respect for human life. The existence of this Medivac Helicopter will certainly increase the performance and added value of toll road services in Indonesia.

This year of independence, which has entered its 78th year, is “moving towards a developed Indonesia” and is the right time to maximize the potential of helicopters which so far have not been maximized.