Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and the Air Force Territorial Center (Pusterau) have officially established a strategic collaboration in the field of aerospace as a concrete step to strengthen the university’s tridharma and support air defense capabilities. The agreement was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Head of Pusterau, Marshal Tjahja Elang Migdiawan, and UGM Vice-Rector for Research, Business Development, and Partnerships, Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, at the Ballroom of the Gramm Hotel Yogyakarta on Friday (Nov. 28).
Commander of Adisutjipto Air Base, First Marshal Toto Ginanto, emphasized the importance of collaboration in generating broader benefits for both institutions as well as for society, the nation, and the state.
“This synergy also serves as a momentum to resume the cooperation that was delayed since 2018,” he added.
Welcoming this collaboration, Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko stated that many areas hold strong potential for joint initiatives, especially in postgraduate education programs, including training and joint training.
“In the field of research, UGM focuses on strengthening national defense, which is not only related to hardware but also regulatory frameworks as well as social and population behavior aspects,” he added.
The cooperation includes the utilization of two units of the Microlight Trike Airborne Edge XT-582 aircraft. The aircraft were granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in 2022 and will now serve as air-domain facilities to support capability development and the deployment of air defense forces.
The cooperation documents also include an agreement between the Faculty of Engineering at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FT UGM) and the Jogja Flying Club (JFC). The operational management and utilization of the aircraft will be carried out by JFC. Both aircraft will be re-registered as members of the Aero Sport Federation of Indonesia (FASI) for the Yogyakarta region and stationed at the JFC Hangar at Adisutjipto Air Force Base, Yogyakarta.
As a follow-up to the agreement, Dean of FT UGM, Professor Selo, formally handed over the trike aircraft to First Marshal Toto Ginanto, and Head of Pusterau, First Marshal Tjahja Elang Migdiawan, on Saturday (Nov. 29). The handover was followed by a flight trial of the trike aircraft on the runway of Adisutjipto Air Force Base, Yogyakarta.
Professor Selo openly addressed the challenges UGM had faced in operating the aircraft.
“For three years, these planes were kept in storage because we did not know how to operate them. We had no licensed personnel to fly them. In fact, even if we wanted to fly them, we had no facility available,” the dean said.
Through this collaborative initiative, Professor Selo noted that qualified parties can optimally utilize the aircraft (national assets of the air domain). He expressed hope that the cooperation would produce new pilots from within the UGM academic community in the future.
First Marshal Tjahja Elang Migdiawan explained that the purpose of the cooperation is to establish a shared understanding and synergy in the joint use of the trike aircraft.
“In peacetime, the aircraft can be used to support the university’s tridharma and to foster aerospace sports under the coordination of FASI Yogyakarta,” he said.
Furthermore, he noted that light aircraft play an important role in Military Operations Other Than War (MOPs).
“In disaster situations, such as forest fires and similar events, conventional aircraft cannot enter affected zones. In these cases, paramotors and paratrikes are deployed to deliver emergency assistance,” he explained.
Author: Aldi Firmansyah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographer: Firsto Adi