Jakarta, March 24, 2025 — The Faculty of Law at Universitas Dirgantara Marsekal Suryadarma (UNSURYA) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the field of air and space law through the successful organization of an international webinar titled “Modernization of Aviation Law for Aviation Safety and Security: A Comparative Study of Indonesia and Thailand.” The event was held virtually on Monday, March 24, 2025, from 09:00 to 13:00 WIB (GMT+7).
This activity aimed to support the development of air law in Indonesia and enrich the knowledge base of students from both Indonesia and Thailand, as well as members of the legal community and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). Students from UNSURYA’s Master of Law Program expressed hope that similar events would be held regularly. Meanwhile, students from Thammasat University expressed admiration for Indonesia’s implementation of air law and showed interest in visiting Indonesian airports and facilities in person.
The webinar featured three distinguished speakers, who unanimously emphasized that aviation safety and security are fundamental elements of both national and international civil aviation.
Featured Presentations:
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Dr. Bambang Widarto, S.H., M.H.
Chair of UNSURYA’s Master of Law Program and Secretary of the Center for Aerospace Law Studies at UNSURYA
Presented: “The Enactment of the Montreal Convention of 1999 and the Implementation of Airmanship for Aviation Safety in Indonesia.”
He emphasized the relevance of MC99 to Indonesia’s aviation sector and the importance of airmanship as a behavioral and ethical foundation in aviation. -
Mr. Ridha (Indonesia)
Presented: “Recent Developments of the Indonesian Aviation Law: An Airport Perspective.”
He discussed the Indonesian government’s ongoing efforts to improve airport security and service quality through infrastructure upgrades, the adoption of advanced security technologies, and personnel training, led by the Ministry of Transportation and relevant state-owned enterprises. -
Assistant Professor Dr. Lalin Kovudhikulrungsri
Faculty of Law, Thammasat University (Thailand)
Presented: “Montreal Convention: Recent Case Developments.”
She explained that the 1999 Montreal Convention (MC99) serves as a modernization of the 1929 Warsaw Convention. Dr. Lalin detailed the legal rights of air passengers, including the right to clear information, proper treatment, and fair compensation. She also emphasized Thailand’s legal responsibility to ensure the safety and security of both its citizens and foreign nationals from aviation-related risks.
Opening Remarks
Dean of the Faculty of Law, UNSURYA, Air Vice Marshal (Ret.) Dr. Sujono, S.H., M.H., C.FrA., officially opened the event:
“This international webinar is part of UNSURYA’s efforts to support one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely the pursuit of quality education—particularly in the field of aerospace and space law. I extend my sincere gratitude for the success of this collaboration to:
The Dean of the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, Associate Professor Dr. Pokpong Srisanit;
All distinguished speakers;
Participants from both Indonesia and abroad; and
The organizing committee.
I hope this international collaboration will continue in the future.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pokpong Srisanit, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to the speakers and participants from both Indonesia and Thailand. He reiterated that passenger safety and consumer protection are critical pillars of international civil aviation.
High Enthusiasm and Audience Engagement
The webinar attracted 467 participants, reflecting a strong interest in the topic. Numerous questions were submitted to the speakers, including one from Mr. Novi, a student at the Military Law School (Sekolah Tinggi Hukum Militer/ STHM), Jakarta.
Mr. Novi asked Dr. Bambang about the ideal framework for air law in Indonesia.
Dr. Bambang responded by stating that ideally, Law No. 1 of 2009 on Aviation should be revised, and air transport regulations should not be consolidated into a single law. He cited Article 5 of the Aviation Law, which affirms that the Republic of Indonesia holds full and exclusive sovereignty over its national airspace.
