Non-stop Working Week, Lebaran is never a holiday even though it has only been operating for two years, Blimbingsari Airport flights, Rogojampi, belong solid. It can be said that, Blimbingsari Airport is the busiest in East Java after Juanda International Airport, Surabaya. Because it's compact, petugas air traffic control (ATC) also became busy.
Blimbingsari airport has only four air traffic control officers (ATC). This amount is considered minimal. Especially, not all of these officers are on duty. Only three officers on routine duty every day. One more officer has been absent for almost ten months because he is on duty- school from the Ministry of Transportation (Ministry of Transportation) RI. The task of ATC personnel is quite heavy. For nine hours they drove per plane motion.
In general, ATC is in charge of regulating aircraft traffic. His job is to prevent two planes from getting too close and to prevent two planes from colliding (making separation). Besides that, ATC is also in charge of regulating the smooth flow of traffic (traffic flow), assist pilots in emergencies, and provide the information pilots need. Three ATC officers at Blimbingsari Airport every day have to organize and guide around 150 the movement of the aircraft. For nine hours, the three must “gig” on top of the watchtower.
As long as the airport is operating, ATC officers may not leave the watchtower. They can only leave the watchtower after the virgin tires are not operating, which is around 17.00. Even during recess, they cannot leave the tower. Lunch and midday prayers must still be done at the watchtower. “They have to take turns going down to buy food. Only one can go down. The other two must always stand by at the tower while the airport is operating,"said the Head of Blimbingsari Airport, Andy Hendra Suryaka.
During working hours, three ATC officers rarely eat at the stall. They prefer to eat rice wrapped in the tower. While on duty, The four AC officers set the time every two hours. Every two hours they take turns driving a plane flying in the air. Within those two hours, ATC officers do not stop giving directions and instructions to pilots who are flying. The activities of ATC officers while on duty are very busy. Don't chat with fellow ATC officers, just take the call almost no time.
The time is sucked to communicate with the pilot via the available special radio. Communication by telephone is only carried out with airport officers who are the destination of the plane. To pick up a personal cell phone, they have to ask for help from other officers who are on break chattering. While dealing with radio communication, ATC officers can only guide the plane in the air. All ATC officers are civil servants (civil servant) RI Ministry of Transportation. Even if you are a civil servant, but the rules that apply are different from other civil servants.
In general, PNS off work on Sunday. But, ATC officers don't have a day off. On other holidays, ATC officers don't have a day off either. For a week, Blimbingsari Airport ATC officers work non-stop. "No holidays". There is only changing work shifts. There is a morning shift and there is an afternoon shift. But rest can't be together, can only be one person, and that two people have to stay on stage,said Andy. Apart from not having a weekly day off, Blimbingsari Airport ATC officers also don't have annual holidays.
Even during Eid they have to stay in as usual. Since serving at Blimbingsari Airport, The four ATC officers have never experienced Lebaran with their family. When other people have Eid, they still have to guide the movement of the plane. "Even though I don't have a holiday during Eid, they never demand. They are used to it since they became cadets,said Andy. The airport has difficulty arranging ATC staff's holiday hours. Because, The number of ATC officers at Blimbingsari Airport is very limited, not like in other airports.
So that ATC officers can have weekly holidays, Blimbingsari Airport must have at least 12 ATC officer. If it's available, then Blimbingsari Airport can arrange weekly holidays for them. As long as the officer is less than that, weekly holidays are difficult to apply. “Their work cannot be replaced by other officers. All ATC officers must have a special license,he said. Blimbingsari Airport ATC officers must manage the movement of eight training aircraft and one commercial aircraft.
The eight training aircraft consist of six trainer aircraft belonging to the Bali International Flight Academy (IMAGE) and two training aircraft belonging to the Ministry of Transportation's Aviation Education and Training Center. The six training planes belonging to BIFA were used for flying training 20 cadet pilot. Two training planes belonging to the Aviation Training Center are used 12 flying practice student. One commercial aircraft in question belongs to Wing Air.
In a day, ATC officer must arrange around 150 per aircraft movement. That's not if there is a private jet that lands at Blimbingsari Airport. On Saturday and Sunday, the activities of air traffic guides at Blimbingsari Airport are somewhat reduced. Because, on Saturday and Sunday, training aircraft belonging to the Flight Training and Education Center. The officer only serves the movement of BIFA's trainer aircraft which flies non-stop for a week. actually, ATC officers have a one-hour break for nine hours each day.
At 12.00 until 13.00 BIFA's plane is off flying. However, ATC officer still can't leave the radio communication. Because, facts on the ground, at 12.00 until 13.00 there are some students still in the air, so ATC officers can't rest. “They already understand very well. No one complained, because it has become a professional risk,said Andy. (radar)
