One afternoon at a vocational aviation campus in Curug, a young student approached me after class. His eyes lit up as he described a simple idea: building an application to optimize crew scheduling so that airlines could run more efficiently. “If this were in the United States,” he said, “an idea like this could easily get the attention of investors. But here, it’s almost impossible. Forget about funding—getting permission just to test it is already a big hurdle.”
His frustration was real, yet his words captured something larger: the dilemma of Indonesia’s aviation ecosystem. We have thousands of young people who are talented, disciplined, and full of ideas. They dream not only of flying planes or repairing engines, but also of designing new systems, apps, and hardware. Yet the ecosystem around them is not fertile. Airports are deemed too risky for experiments. Operators hesitate to become the first customers. Regulators remain more focused on maintaining the status quo than opening space for innovation.
This is paradoxical. If there is one sector where Indonesia cannot afford to stagnate, it is aviation. With over 17,000 islands, our nation depends on the skies for integration, connectivity, and growth. Aviation is not just another industry; it is the backbone of national unity. But without entrepreneurs who can transform ideas into sustainable businesses, we risk being forever dependent on imported technologies while our own talents remain spectators.
The Urgency in Numbers
The aviation sector is not just strategic for Indonesia—it is economically massive. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), air transport contributes US$15 billion annually to Indonesia’s GDP and supports more than 4 million jobs directly and indirectly. By 2035, passenger traffic in Indonesia is projected to nearly triple, making it one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world.
Meanwhile, the global drone logistics market is projected to reach US$29 billion by 2030. The market for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), driven by global decarbonization goals, is expected to exceed US$200 billion by 2050. These are not abstract numbers—they represent opportunities where Indonesia’s young entrepreneurs could play a role, if only given the chance.
Yet, the paradox is glaring. While we graduate tens of thousands of students from vocational and technical aviation schools annually, almost all are channeled into fixed career tracks: pilots, mechanics, air traffic controllers, ground staff. The pipeline is efficient for producing workers, but barren for producing innovators.
In comparison, Singapore—despite having only a fraction of our population—has already launched over 100 aviation-related startups through its Aviation Innovation Programme. Indonesia, with 270 million people and 17,000 islands, has virtually none making it to international recognition.
This is not just a missed opportunity—it is a strategic vulnerability.
Problem Definition: A Worker’s Paradigm in a Changing Economy
For decades, Indonesia’s vocational aviation schools have excelled at producing skilled workers: pilots, engineers, ground handlers, and technicians. This is necessary—safety and professionalism are paramount in aviation. But it has also created a “worker paradigm.” Students are trained to be operators of systems, not creators of solutions. They become competent “tukang”—craftsmen—rather than entrepreneurs.
This paradigm reinforces a pragmatic economy mindset. The goal is to graduate, secure a job, earn a stable salary, and climb the professional ladder. There is little room for risk-taking, innovation, or entrepreneurship. For many students, the safest career is working in state-owned airlines or airport authorities, not starting a business.
At the same time, the ecosystem is weak. There are few testbeds where students or startups can experiment. Private investors avoid aviation, seeing it as capital-intensive and heavily regulated. State-owned enterprises (SOEs) prefer to buy off-the-shelf foreign technologies rather than take risks with local innovators. As a result, young Indonesians with fresh ideas hit a wall: they have the talent, they have the ideas, but they lack the market, the funding, and the policy space.
The consequence is stark: while Indonesia consumes foreign aviation technologies, we contribute little to global innovation. Our airports are filled with imported systems, our airlines rely on foreign software, and our startups shy away from aviation altogether. This worker-oriented, pragmatic model may have served us in the past, but it cannot sustain Indonesia’s aviation future.
Policy Window: Why Now?
The timing could not be more critical. Several factors converge to make this the right moment to push for aviation entrepreneurship.
First, the demographic dividend. Indonesia is experiencing a surge of young talent. Millions of students graduate from vocational and technical schools every year. If even a fraction of this energy can be channeled into entrepreneurship, the impact would be transformative.
Second, global sustainability pressures. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) are pushing for greener, more sustainable aviation. Airlines worldwide are exploring electric ground support equipment, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and carbon-monitoring technologies. Indonesia cannot remain on the sidelines.
Third, ASEAN competition. Singapore has established itself as a regional hub for aviation innovation, with sandbox environments at Changi Airport. Vietnam and Thailand are aggressively investing in drone logistics and smart airports. If Indonesia fails to act, we risk being left behind in our own backyard.
Fourth, the digital economy momentum. Indonesia has already proven it can produce unicorns such as Gojek, Tokopedia, and Traveloka. These successes demonstrate that young Indonesians are capable of world-class innovation when the ecosystem supports them. Aviation, as a sector deeply intertwined with logistics and digital solutions, is a natural next frontier.
In short, the window of opportunity is open. The question is whether we will seize it.
The Cost of Inaction
If Indonesia fails to act, the consequences will be more than economic.
- Dependence on imports. We will continue to purchase aviation technologies—from air traffic management software to biometric boarding systems—from foreign suppliers. This not only drains foreign reserves but also weakens technological sovereignty.
- Talent exodus. Talented youth frustrated by lack of opportunities will either leave the sector or migrate abroad. Already, we see Indonesian engineers contributing to aerospace projects in Singapore or even the Middle East.
- Lost sustainability momentum. With global aviation under pressure to reduce emissions, Indonesia risks being labeled a “laggard,” missing out on green financing and carbon-credit opportunities.
- Regional marginalization. As ASEAN neighbors push forward with drone logistics, urban air mobility, and smart airports, Indonesia could find itself sidelined—reduced to being a consumer market rather than a producer hub.
The opportunity cost is staggering: every year of inaction means billions in potential market value slipping away.
Concrete Areas of Innovation
Indonesia does not need to chase science-fiction dreams; many practical areas await innovation:
- Smart apron management systems to reduce congestion.
- Drone-based agricultural spraying for plantations in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
- Digital compliance platforms for safety audits.
- Electrified ground support equipment (e-GSE) for greener airports.
- Cold-chain cargo monitoring to support fisheries and pharmaceuticals.
These niches are pragmatic, high-demand, and scalable—perfect entry points for young entrepreneurs.
Evidence and Comparative Analysis
Around the world, countries are finding ways to balance safety and innovation.
Singapore: Changi Airport has pioneered the Changi Innovation Sandbox, a controlled environment where startups can test technologies ranging from biometric boarding to automated baggage handling. This model shows that safety and innovation can coexist if there are boundaries and frameworks.
Rwanda: Despite limited infrastructure, Rwanda has become a global leader in drone logistics. Through partnerships with Zipline, drones deliver blood and medical supplies to remote villages in minutes. The lesson: innovation does not require a wealthy ecosystem, but it does require regulatory will and openness.
European Union: Through programs like Horizon Europe, the EU funds sustainable aviation projects—from SAF research to green airport infrastructure. By blending public funding with private innovation, Europe demonstrates how to align entrepreneurship with sustainability goals.
These examples illustrate a critical point: Indonesia does not need to reinvent the wheel. The models are out there. What is missing is the political will and institutional design to adapt them to our context.
Policy Recommendations: Building an Aviation Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
To shift from workers to entrepreneurs, and from pragmatic to sustainable economics, Indonesia must pursue a coherent set of policies. Six pillars stand out.
- Curriculum Reform: Embedding Entrepreneurship in Vocational Education
Vocational aviation campuses must go beyond technical training. Entrepreneurship modules should be integrated into curricula. Students must learn how to develop business plans, pitch ideas, and assess risks alongside technical mastery. Final-year projects should not only be academic theses but also business proposals tested in real environments.
- Airport Sandboxes: Creating Living Laboratories
Selected airports should be transformed into controlled innovation hubs. For example:
- Kertajati as a hub for drone logistics and regional cargo solutions.
- Soekarno-Hatta as a center for smart airport operations.
- Batam as a cluster for light aerospace manufacturing and maintenance.
With proper regulation, these sandboxes can allow experimentation without compromising safety.
- Sustainable Financing: Funding Innovation Responsibly
The government should establish green financing schemes for aviation startups. This includes:
- Tax deductions for R&D.
- Import duty exemptions for prototype components.
- Matching funds where government co-invests alongside private investors.
By tying these funds to sustainability metrics, Indonesia can ensure that entrepreneurship aligns with long-term goals.
- Domestic First-Customer Scheme: SOEs as Early Adopters
State-owned enterprises should act as “first customers” for local startups. A six-month trial contract with limited value can provide crucial validation. If successful, the product can be scaled. This approach spreads risk while giving innovators a chance to prove themselves.
- Sustainable Business Integration
All business plans emerging from aviation campuses must incorporate sustainability. Whether it is reducing emissions, enhancing energy efficiency, or enabling circular economy practices, sustainability should be a default requirement.
- Community and Branding: Building a Culture of Innovation
Indonesia needs a recurring platform such as an “Indonesia Aviation Startup Forum” to connect students, regulators, investors, and operators. Annual competitions can showcase talent and attract attention. Over time, this builds not just individual startups but also a culture that sees aviation as fertile ground for innovation.
Entrepreneurial Vision: From Tukang to Innovator, From Consumer to Producer
At its core, this is about a paradigm shift.
From tukang—skilled workers who execute tasks—to entrepreneurs who identify problems, design solutions, and create jobs.
From pragmatic economics, where the goal is stability and survival, to sustainable economics, where the goal is resilience, innovation, and long-term value.
From consumer of foreign technologies to producer of local solutions that can compete globally.
Vocational campuses can become the breeding ground of this transformation. They already instill discipline, precision, and technical excellence—the very qualities required for aviation. By adding entrepreneurship and sustainability to this foundation, we can produce a generation of innovators who are both competent and visionary.
Closing Narrative
As the conversation with the student in Curug ended, he looked at me with determination. “I don’t want to just be a spectator,” he said. “I want to build something in my own country.”
His words were simple, but they carried profound meaning. Indonesia’s youth are ready. They do not lack talent or ideas. What they lack is an ecosystem that allows them to grow from workers into entrepreneurs, from pragmatic earners into sustainable innovators.
If regulators can become facilitators, if airports can serve as laboratories, if investors can show trust, then Indonesia’s skies will not only connect islands. They will also showcase the creativity and ingenuity of our own people.
When that happens, we can finally say: the skies above Indonesia are not just airways—they are spaces of innovation, pride, and sustainable prosperity.
The sky above Indonesia is not just a passageway for planes. It can be a laboratory of innovation, a marketplace of ideas, and a symbol of national pride. But only if we dare to move from consumers to producers, from workers to entrepreneurs, from pragmatism to sustainability.
The choice is ours—and the time is now.
