End of an Era: PTFI Says Thank You to MD 82/83 Airfast Indonesia
10 August 2024
Airfast Indonesia has officially retired the last three McDonnell Douglas (MD) 82/83 fleets used for 20 years serving PT Freeport Indonesia. The last flight of the MD-82/83 aircraft unit was taken off on Thursday, July 4, 2024, where the fleet made its last flight on the Timika-Jakarta route via Makassar and Surabaya. The takeoff of the PK-OCS fleet was the last time the "Mad Dog" fleet crossed the airspace of Timika and Indonesia.
As an appreciation for 20 years of excellent service, PTFI invited some of the MD Airfast Indonesia Crew & Staff to visit the Grasberg Open Mine and also the MineGem Control Room. Greeted and led by the area leaders of each area, namely Rode Ajomi (Manager - Grasberg Earthwork) and Anton Priatna (VP - UG Engineering), the Airfast Indonesia group had the opportunity to gain a deeper perspective on the operational side of PTFI.
For some MD Airfast Indonesia Crew & Staff, this mine tour was also a farewell trip with Airfast Indonesia. One of them is Captain Tanto Hawiyono who has been flying with Airfast Indonesia for PTFI since 1993. According to him, for more than 30 years at Airfast Indonesia, PTFI has always been able to give appreciation and create a sense of family. Proven at the end of the MD Airfast Indonesia fleet's service period, PTFI continued to provide appreciation with a well-served mine tour.
The series of visits by the MD Airfast Indonesia team was closed with dinner session with representatives of PTFI Management. Present at this event were Claus Wamafma (Director of PTFI - EVP of Sustainable Development), Clementino Lamury (Director of PTFI - EVP of Human Resources) and Carl Tauran (EVP of Site Operations - Head of Mining Engineering (KTT) PTFI).
Representing fellow MD Airfast Indonesia Pilots, Captain Bambang Heru Setyanto said, "After 19 years of working for Airfast Indonesia, I finally got to see Grasberg and PTFI's Underground Mine. It was truly an experience I will never forget. I would like to express my gratitude to Freeport Indonesia for facilitating us with this truly extraordinary tour.”
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Responding to this, Carl Tauran representing PTFI management said, “If there is anything that is not pleasing during the 20 years of serving us, I, representing the management and extended family of PT Freeport Indonesia, would like to express my apologies. I, Mr. Claus Wamafma, Mr. Clementino Lamury, and all management and employees of PT Freeport Indonesia, express our many thanks.”
MD 82/83 Airfast Indonesia's Journey with PTFI
Airfast Indonesia brought in the MD 82/83 fleet to serve PTFI 20 years ago. The first aircraft to arrive was the PK-OCU fleet on August 1, 2004. The first route served by PK-OCU was the Cengkareng to Surabaya route on August 31, 2004. After PK-OCU, the next 3 fleets followed, PK-OCT (August 28, 2004), PK-OCS (November 22, 2011) and finally PK-OCR (July 1, 2015).
From 2004 to 2024, the MD fleets have served PTFI for approximately 22,186 flights with an estimated 1,354,000 passengers during its operational period. The excellent record of the MD Airfast Indonesia fleet with PTFI is marked by no accidents (zero tolerance) for 20 years.
Back To List
.png)
.JPG)