Buleleng promises new airfield<\/p>\n
By Pariama Hutasoit<\/p>\n
BULELENG, North Bali (JP): Buleleng might be one of Bali's
\npoorest regencies, but thanks to its airfield, it has
\nsuccessfully hosted an international-scale airshow, Buleleng Fly-
\nin 2001.<\/p>\n
The experience, according to head of Buleleng Transportation
\nAgency Bagus Puja Erawan, was worthwhile.<\/p>\n
"The airfield is not yet equipped with the facilities
\nnecessary if we want to change it from a second-class airport
\ninto one of international standard," he said.<\/p>\n
Originally, the Lt. Col. Wisnu airfield -- which is located in
\nthe remote village of Sumberkima, around 65 kilometers
\nwest of the regency capital of Singaraja -- was built by the
\nDutch colonial government as a temporary airstrip. After being
\nneglected for more than 50 years, the regency then tried to
\nrefurbish all existing facilities and upgrade its status to that
\nof an airfield.<\/p>\n
Currently, the airfield only has a 690-meter-long runway,
\ncapable of accommodating Cassa Stoll aircraft. With a 14-hectare
\nplot of land and its short runway, the airfield can only
\naccommodate 30 light aircraft.<\/p>\n
The regency plans to lengthen the runway to between 1,200
\nmeters and 1300 meters.<\/p>\n
"It is expected that by then, at least 60-seat Dust 7, Fokker
\n27 and Fokker 28 could land here," said Erawan. He added that the
\nplan would require around Rp 22 billion of investment, not only
\nto improve the runway, but also navigation, lighting systems and
\nother facilities.<\/p>\n
Secretary-general of ASEAN Federation Flying Club, K.N. Singh,
\nsaid it would be ideal if the airfield had a runway of between
\n1,200 meters and 1,400 meters in length.<\/p>\n
"But, physically, this airfield is adequate to accommodate
\nlight aircraft and other kinds of aerosports activities," Singh
\ncommented.<\/p>\n
However, he expressed optimism that in the future, the
\nairfield could be developed into one of the aerosports centers in
\nthe Southeast Asia region. However, Singh thought it necessary to
\nsimplify all procedures, like flight approval, security clearance
\nand diplomatic clearance, to attract more domestic and foreign
\naviators to the airfield.<\/p>\n
Compared with other member countries of ASEAN, Indonesia does
\nnot yet have standardized and simplified procedures, which could
\nlure foreign aviators to the country.<\/p>\n
"It takes quite a long time to apply for any permit to fly to
\nIndonesia," Singh said.<\/p>\n
Former executive director of the Indonesian Aerosport
\nFederation (FASI) Junior Marshal (ret.) Tamtama Adi, was eager to
\ntransform the airfield into an aerosports education center.<\/p>\n
"We have already have such a facility at Lido, Sukabumi in
\nWest Java," he said.<\/p>\n
Second airport<\/p>\n
In the future, Lt. Col. Wisnu airfield will be developed as
\nBali's second airport, to complement the present Ngurah Rai
\nInternational Airport in Kuta, South Bali.<\/p>\n
By 2003, the new airfield is expected to accommodate flights
\nusing light aircraft. Currently, commercial and private light
\naircraft flying to places like Surabaya in East Java, Lombok and
\nSumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara, and East Nusa Tenggara can land
\nonly at Ngurah Rai airport, making it one of the busiest in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
To carry out the plan, however, will require a huge amount of
\nmoney, something that the regency does not have.<\/p>\n
However, Buleleng regent Ketut Wiratha Sindhu sounds quite
\nambitious. "We plan to invite private investors to help develop
\nthe airport and its adjacent areas," the regent said during the
\nairshow last weekend.<\/p>\n
It was reported that Yusuf Merukh, a businessman and one of
\nthe shareholders of PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara in Sumbawa, West
\nNusa Tenggara, had detected a business opportunity here in North
\nBali. Merukh was reportedly eager to use the airfield to
\nfacilitate travel for his 750 non-local workers wanting to travel
\nto Bali. It was further reported that the businessman was
\nplanning to build a condominium on a 200-hectare plot of land,
\nformerly owned by PT Tekad Andika Dharma.<\/p>\n
North Bali has abundant tourist attractions, such as
\nunderwater recreational sites, beautiful beaches and mountainous
\nareas. But not many people are aware of these since it takes
\naround 3.5 hours to drive from the provincial capital, Denpasar
\nto the regency. The development of Lt. Col. Wisnu airfield is
\ncertainly hoped to open up this remote area.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/buleleng-promises-new-airfield-1447893297",
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