Garuda gives Air Force secondhand Boeing 737s

National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia on Wednesday handed over two used Boeing 737-400 aircraft to the Indonesian Air Force, in a bid to support the VIP 17 air squadron based at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

The two passenger jets were handed over by Garuda president director Emirsyah Satar to Air Force chief of staff Marshall Imam Sufaat in a symbolic gesture at Halim Airport in East Jakarta.

“These are secondhand aircraft, but they still have many operating hours left,” Emirsyah said as quoted by Antara, adding that the plane maintenance would be taken on as a joint responsibility by Garuda Maintenance Facility (GMF) and the Air Force.

Imam, meanwhile, said no modifications would be made to the aircrafts in regard to their planned use as VIP military carriers.

He added that the transfer of ownership was based on an agreement between Garuda and the Air Force that was signed late last year.


Source: JAKARTA - The Jakarta Post, 03/10/2011 — JP

Photo: Indonesian Air Force Boeing 737-2X9(A) AI-7303 (cn 22779) Manado - Sam Ratulangi (MDC / WAMM), Indonesia

(10.03.2011)