Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – The air forces of 19 Pacific nations started maneuvers here Monday for the 2007 Pacific Airlift Rally, a joint military exercise aimed at honing the forces' ability to handle natural disasters.
The exercise, held regularly every two years, is being hosted by Indonesia and the United States. This year is the first time the exercise has been held in Indonesia since its launch in 1997.
Assistant for operations to the Indonesian Air Force chief, Air Rear Marshall Edy Harjoko, said the joint exercise was aimed at improving skills and coordination among the forces in the event of a major natural disaster.
"We hope that through this training the air forces will be able to handle aid immediately and efficiently avert further hardships caused by a natural disaster," he said while addressing the opening of the event at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in East Jakarta.
The five-day exercise, involving 500 air force personnel, will simulate responses to an 8.5-magnitude earthquake with an epicenter 214 nautical miles (approximately 396 kilometers) southeast of Jakarta, in the vicinity of Yogyakarta.
In the scenario, the earthquake, caused by thrust-faulting between the Australian plate and the Sumba plate inflicts damage across Java, Bali and Lombok islands.
The virtual earthquake also causes over 140,000 deaths, as well as destroying buildings and communications, transportation, electricity, gas and water infrastructure.
Participants have been divided into two groups: the Command Post Exercise (CPX) and the Field Training Exercise (FTX).
"The CPX will arrange the distribution of the aid, while the FTX will deliver the aid immediately after receiving orders from the CPX," said a member of the exercise's steering committee, Lt. Col. Sungkono.
The FTX comprises members of the air forces of Indonesia, the US, Malaysia and Bangladesh. The four forces flew from Halim Perdanakusuma to the Indonesian Air Force training field in Gorda, Tangerang, to distribute food and medicine.
The forces used six carrier aircraft – four C130 Hercules owned by Indonesia, the US and Malaysia, one US C17 Globe Master and one Bangladeshi AN32 Antonov.