PT Freeport Indonesia spirits took to the sky last month when the first of two new Boeing 737 Max 8 company planes that made an inaugural passenger flight from Jakarta to Timika was welcomed by a water cannon salute on the tarmac after safely touching down at the Mozes Kilangin Airport on March 4.
“After a long and thorough procurement process and preparations, we are excited to usher in a new era for our aviation division with the inauguration of one of the new passenger jets,” said Rob Schroeder, PTFI Director-Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
The new plane arrived in Jakarta in January from Southern Arizona. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held in February, ahead of the inaugural flight in March. The second plane is scheduled to arrive in May.
PT Freeport Indonesia procured the two Boeing 737s to replace aging McDonnell Douglass aircraft. Operated by charter company PT Airfast Indonesia, the aircraft will provide passenger service for employees and their families traveling to and from the remote area of Timika, near our Grasberg mine, and other Indonesian cities.
The Max 8 is among the newest and most advanced aircraft available, with state-of-the-art features making for more efficient operations, said Dave Jones, Manager-PTFI Aviation Technology Standards and Logistics. Some of these features include:
- A 30 percent reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions
- Stage 4 aircraft noise standard, the quietest according to the Federal Aviation Administration
- Advanced safety and performance monitoring systems, resulting in 99.31 percent fleet reliability
- Increased flying range of 3,500 miles nonstop, which is greater than the distance between Timika and Jakarta, improving scheduling options and medical evacuation response
As part of the fleet transition, PTFI and Airfast opted to have Boeing flight and technical personnel based onsite in Indonesia to assist with training and to ensure that the transition meets the highest standards of safety and efficiency.
While it can carry up to 189 passengers, PTFI has opted for just 177 seats to allow for maximum passenger comfort.
“Airfast flights are generally longer, so we maintain extra legroom in our fleet. This way passengers can feel more comfortable on the flights,” Jones said.
In addition, the Max 8 boasts premium aircraft seating with leather upholstery. An inflight entertainment system – accessible via personal devices such as mobile phones and tablets – is scheduled to be installed in the second quarter of 2024 that will allow passengers to play a selection of movies, television programs, games and music.
PTFI was able to choose its preferred aircraft registration, a code unique to a single aircraft and required to be marked on the exterior of the plane.
“The new aircraft registrations, PK-OFI for the first plane and PK-OFM for the second – pay homage to Freeport Indonesia and Freeport-McMoRan,” Jones said.