Sunday 8 June 2008

Air Force receives patrol aircraft

Saturday, June 7, 2008 Jakarta Post

Air Force receives patrol aircraft

JAKARTA: State aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia on Friday handed over a CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft to the Indonesian Air Force, to help in the fight against illegal fishing and logging.

Dirgantara president director Budi Santoso said the aircraft was capable of monitoring the movement of vessels at sea, identifying their registration numbers and flags, and recording their speed.

"The aircraft is expected to help reduce theft of natural resources, including illegal logging and fishing," he said at a hand-over ceremony at Halim Perdanakusuma airbase in East Jakarta.

He said the plane could also serve to forecast weather, thanks to its French-made multipurpose radar. -- JP