US-Indonesia deepen cooperation on aviation

Jakarta, June 11 (Antara) - U.S. Federally Funded Research and Development Center MITRE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday with Airnav Indonesia, as well as with Angkasa Pura II, agreeing to cooperate on technical aviation support. Held at the residence of U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake, the MOU signing came at the conclusion of the U.S. Industry Day, hosted by the Ministry of Transport, according to the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta on its official website on Wednesday. The day also served as the launch event for the Aviation Working Group (AWG), which consists of U.S. and Indonesian private sector and government entities. During the Tuesday morning launch event, Ambassador Blake noted: "President Jokowi has made infrastructure development a key pillar of his government's economic growth strategy, and aviation sector development is central to that effort. That is why I am so pleased to help launch the Aviation Working Group, which will provide a platform for U.S. government and private sector engagement with Indonesia's aviation stakeholders, to share best practices from around the world, and to propose and provide innovative solutions and services to support Indonesia's aviation sector growth. U.S. companies are uniquely qualified to meet the challenges of the growing aviation sector in partnership with the Indonesian government and aviation stakeholders. The AWG aims to plan mutually beneficial activities and engagements under the working group that aligns the interests and strengths of U.S. industry with Indonesia's priorities in key areas including: Air Traffic Management Modernization, Airport Infrastructure, Aviation Safety and Security, Development and Growth of Aviation Support Services, Airspace and Airport Capacity Analysis, Development, and Planning, General Aviation Access and Integration and Cargo Security. AWG members include 23 U.S. companies who presented their solutions to help meet Indonesia's aviation sector needs, representatives from the Directorate General for Civil Aviation, airport operators Angkasa Pura I and II, and navigation agency Airnav Indonesia, as well as the Indonesian Aviation Association and Indonesian airline companies. U.S. Government representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and the Transportation Security Administration also joined the AWG discussions.