Draft:Indonesian Naval Aviation Center

Indonesian Naval Aviation Center, abbreviated as Puspenerbal or Penerbal, is a naval aviation force of the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL). Puspenerbal as the Central Executing Agency, is a training center for Indonesian Navy Aviation units in the field of personnel and air elements readiness. In carrying out these tasks, the Puspenerbal carries out aviation functions which include: Tactical Air Reconnaissance, Anti-Ship on the Surface of the Water, Anti-Submarine, Cross-Helicopter Landing Troops, support for Fast Logistics and Sea Observation, as well as carrying out the function of developing material for Naval Aviation.

Beginnings of naval aviation
On February 4, 1950 the Aviation Staff was formed, which was later enhanced by the establishment of the Aviation Bureau at the Naval Staff on June 17, 1956. As the first Head of the Naval Aviation Bureau, Captain (N) RM Moedjono Poerbonegoro was appointed. The need for human resources to man the organization was felt urgent, so since April 1957 personnel were sent successively to Singapore, India, the UK and USA to be trained to become personnel crewing aviation organizations, including: pilots, navigators, ATC, technicians, electricians, radio, radar, air telegraphy as well as air weapon systems. One important thing to note was several Indonesian Navy officers who graduated from the Dutch Royal Naval College (Koninklijk Instituut voor de Marine, KIM) were sent by the branch trained as Navy pilots to the British Royal Air Force (RAF), then followed by regular sending of several cadets to the RAF for Aviator and Navigator majors. Apart from officers, non-commissioned officers are also sent to become aircraft technicians and air traffic controllers (ATC). While not yet having an airplane to maintain flying skills after returning to their homeland, Indonesian Navy flight officers were seconded to the Indonesian Air Force (AURI) which gave them the opportunity to fly Dakota and Vampire planes for training purposes.

As a follow-up to this important decision, an Instruction Letter of the Chief of Staff of the Navy was issued No. A 19/1/4 dated 29 December 1958, signed by Vice Admiral R. Soebijakto, approved the planned Establishment of a Naval Aviation Preparation Unit (KPPALM) with garrison at the then newly built Morokrembangan Naval Air Base in Surabaya, located near the Port of Tanjung Perak. During preparation, all administrative personnel were seconded to the Naval Academy based nearby.

The task of KPPALM was to accommodate and educate Aviation members to be prepared as crews for Naval Aviation organizations, carry out maintenance of existing aviation equipment, and build various facilities and infrastructure to support Naval Aviation operations. Its initial victories were marked with the entry of the AKS type Gannet aircraft into the ranks of the Indonesian Navy, which commenced with the purchase contract for the AS-4 and T-5 Gannet aircraft with Fairey Aviation Ltd (England), with the signing ceremony held on January 27 1959 in Jakarta with the Chief of Staff VADM Eddy Martadinata signing the official contract, and the signing of the contract for the manufacture of the Waru Project with CITE from France in 1960. Not long after, on March 1, 1960, through the Decree of the KSAL Number A19/1/1 dated January 25, 1960, the establishment of the Morokrembangan Naval Aviation Base (PPALM) was inaugurated. On 7 February 1960 the first batch of Gannet aircraft arrived in Indonesia. The same goes for personnel who have completed their education abroad. On 2 April 1960 the position of PPALM was changed to Morokrembangan Naval Air Station (PUALAM), and on 4 April 1960 PUALAM was inaugurated by Prime Minister Djuanda Kartawidjaja in Morokrembangan, Surabaya, representing the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Sukarno. The Waru Naval Air Stadion (Pualwa) as a replacement for PUALAM, was inaugurated for use in August 1964 as the new home of naval aviation. Since then the position of the Naval Air Base and the Air Type Command were moved from Morokrembangan to Sedati township in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, just kilometers away from Surabaya. The Gannets would be the first air assets of naval aviation in Indonesia.

On August 16, 1961, seventeen cadets (pilot candidates) of the Republic of Indonesia Navy (ALRI), who were on average in their 20s, as well as dozens of non-commissioned officers and mechanics, departed for Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan. They were the first group of Navy helicopter pilot cadets who would later become pioneers of Indonesian Naval Aviation, who would man the Mil Mi-4 Hound helicopters purchased from the Soviet Union, the first helicopters of naval aviation. Education for Naval Aviation personnel at the same time was also being developed in line with the demands of the profession.

During 1964 the Navy received various types of aircraft and helicopters, namely 12 IL-28 torpedo bombers and 14 MI-4 helicopters from the Soviet Union. Of these helicopters, nine were anti-submarine helicopters, five were medium transport helicopters and VIP helicopters. Apart from the Soviet Union, the Indonesian Navy also received a number of aircraft from western countries, namely three Alouette multi-purpose transport helicopters from France and a Dakota C-47 medium transport plane from the Netherlands. Several types of aircraft were also purchased from the United States, namely a VIP Grand Commander 500 transport aircraft, three Dakota-47s and four Darter Commander-100 basic training aircraft as well as two Dakota C-47s from Australia, as well as two UF Albatross amphibious aircraft. With the entry of these aircraft, Naval Aviation formed a number of Squadrons according to their functions. The squadrons are Air Squadron 100/Anti-Submarine Squadron with elements of Gannet aircraft; Air Squadron 200/VIP Transport with elements of Grand Commander 500 aircraft; Air Squadron 300/Tactical Transport with elements of Albatross aircraft; Air Squadron 400/ Vertical Landing with Mi-4 Helicopter elements; Air Squadron 500/Torpedo Bombers with IL-28 aircraft elements; Air Squadron 600/Transport with C-47 Dakota aircraft elements; and Air Squadron 900/Maintenance.

In 1964 the Naval Aviation School (Senerbal) was founded under the Naval Education, Training and Doctrine Development Command (KOBANGDIKAL). This school is in charge of preparing non-commissioned officers and enlisted ratings of Naval Aviation to be trained as aircraft technicians and aircrews.

Since the entry of the Darter Commander (DC-100) aircraft, Senerbal begun to educate Navy officers to become pilots with the Navy Aviation Officer School (SPPAL) as the main training element - its students were those who were graduates of the Naval Academy. In line with the refinement of the Navy's organizational principles and procedures, the Indonesian Naval Aviation Bureau changed to the Naval Aviation Command (Konerbal). At the Indonesian Fleet organizational level, the Air Type Command (Kojenud) changed to the Fleet Air Forces Command (Kudarma) on March 29, 1966. In 1970, the Konerbal was changed to the General Staff of the Navy-7/Air (SUAL-7Air). Three years later this term was changed again to the Special Staff of the Indonesian Navy's Chief of Staff for Aviation (Susnerbal). Through the reorganization of the Indonesian Navy in 1976, Susnerbal changed again to become the Indonesian Naval Aviation Service (Disnerbal), the Kudarma changed its name to become the Fleet Air Arm (Satudarma) and Juanda Naval Air Base (Puakla) changed to Naval Air Station Juanda, Surabaya (Lanudal Juanda).

It was these first generation planes that helped the Navy fight in Operation Trikora, Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation and the Indonesian invasion of East Timor.

=== Post-Sukarno period ===

From 1976 to 1983 a number of Nomad N-22 maritime patrol aircraft made in Australia strengthened the ranks of the Indonesian Navy. The presence of these planes is important enough to replace old planes and no longer get spare parts, especially Soviet-made planes. The N-22 Nomad aircraft were then organized into the 800 Squadron. In 1977 the Indonesian Navy Aviation returned to strengthen its fleet by acquiring BO-105 helicopters stationed at the 400 Air Squadron. In 1978 the Headquarters Squadron was formed which was tasked with providing education and training in the environment. Subsequent developments of this Squadron became Squadron 200 which has a permanent function as a Training Squadron. During 1976-1983 it was an important stage for the Indonesian Navy's aviation, with the addition of new aircraft such as 12 Nomad N-22 made in Australia, six BO-105 multi-purpose light transport helicopters, four Casa CN-212 transport aircraft, two AS-332 Super Puma helicopters made by Indonesian Aerospace's Bandung factories, and ten WASP AH-12 A submarine helicopters from the Netherlands. To increase the capability of air logistics support in the area of operation, the Navy established and built a number of naval air stations (Sionudal TNI AL), namely in Sabang, Tanjung Pinang, Matak, Manado, Ambon and Kupang. Since the reorganization of the Indonesian Navy in 1985, these air stations have changed their names to the Indonesian Naval Air Bases with class divisions according to the ability to provide logistical support to the elements/air units of the Navy and provide air support to Navy (including Marine Corps) operations at sea and in land.

During 1984-1989 a number of aircraft nationally made made by IAe strengthened the Indonesian Navy's aviation ranks, namely two Super Puma Nas-332 helicopters, four N Bell-412 helicopters, and four Casa CN-212 transport aircraft. In addition, the Indonesian Naval Aviation also received two additional Bonanza F-33A trainer aircraft made in the United States and four Tampico TB-9 made in France. In the 1990s, Indonesian Naval Aviation further refined its organization and increased its strength and capabilities.

On April 16, 1994 Naval Aviation was split: given the expansion of its assets the Navy ordered the creation of the Western Fleet Air Arm (Satudarmabar) to help support operations in western Indonesia, the rest of the air units formed the Eastern Fleet Air Arm (Satuarmatim). Indonesian Navy Aviation obtained 2 (two) Buffalo DHC-5D medium transport aircraft, 20 Nomad N-22/N-24 maritime patrol aircraft, and a survey helicopter from the National Survey and Monitoring Agency (Basurtanal). The addition of this aircraft requires additional flight personnel and technicians. Meanwhile, most of the officers who graduated from the Naval Academy were increasingly being assigned to the surface assets to serve as ship based officers to match the growing number of ships being sent to the Navy from abroad as well as to support the growing construction of locally made ships, which meant that the naval air arm suffered a shortage of officers. To meet the needs of pilot officers, recruitment is carried out through the Secapa Pilot program and Short Service Volunteer Flight School (PSDP).

In the 2000s, what had been the Naval Aviation Service became the Naval Aviation Center and the two fleet air units redesignated the 1st and 2nd Air Wings.

Organization
Naval Aviation has four main components
 * The Naval Air Wing is the implementing force of the Puspenerbal which is tasked with fostering the strength and combat capability of organic aircraft in the fields of maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine, anti-surface ships, cross-helicopter landing troops, fast logistics support and sea surveillance. The Naval Air Wing is commanded by a field officer of the Indonesian Navy with the rank of colonel.


 * The Naval Air Base is the implementing element of the Puspenerbal which is tasked with fostering and organizing administrative and logistical support for the Air Force elements of the Indonesian Navy. The Naval Air Base Commander by type:
 * Class A is held by a field officer of the Indonesian Navy with the rank of colonel;
 * Class B is held by a field officer of the Indonesian Navy with the rank of lieutenant colonel; and
 * Class C is held by a field officer of the Indonesian Navy with the rank of major.


 * The Naval Aircraft Repair and Maintenance Facility is the implementing element of the Puspenerbal which is tasked with fostering and carrying out aircraft maintenance and repair activities, supporting materials as well as facilities and infrastructure. Naval Aircraft Repair and Maintenance Facility is held by a field officer of the Indonesian Navy with the rank of colonel.


 * The Naval Aviation Training Command is the executing unit of the Puspenerbal in charge of standardizing the professionalism of Indonesian Navy aircraft crew personnel, through organizing courses and training on procedures, aircraft techniques and tactics, the Naval Air Bases and the Naval Aircraft Repair and Maintenance Facility in combat and combat support operations in support of the general tasks assigned to it as well as in providing military aid to the civil authorities (OMSP). The Naval Aviation Training Command is led by a field officer of the Indonesian Navy with the rank of colonel.