Air show opens in Bali

Air show opens in Bali

BULELENG, Bali (JP): State Minister of Tourism and Culture I
Gde Ardhika opened a three-day international air show, the
Buleleng Fly-In 2001, on Friday morning at Lt. Col. Wisnu
airfield in Sumberkima, Gerogak district, about 65 kilometers
west of Singaraja, the Buleleng regency capital.

Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar and Air Force
Chief of Staff Commander Marshall Hanafie Asnan failed to
attend the show. They were represented by subordinates.

Bali Governor I Dewa Made Beratha also failed to show
up. Only Buleleng Regent Wiratha Sindhu accompanied
Ardhika at the opening ceremony.

"I hope that the airfield can be transformed into a
more representative one," Ardhika, who hails from Singaraja, said
during his opening speech. Ardhika, however, demanded that the
local government together with the Indonesian Aerosports
Association (FASI) carry out a comprehensive study before the
airfield is developed into a center for aerosport in Bali.

Meanwhile, Buleleng Regent Wiratha Sindu said the
air show would be an annual event. "We plan to
lengthen the runaway to accommodate more types of light
aircraft," said the regent about one of his ambitious plans.

Some unexpected technical problems occurred prior to
the opening ceremony. A number of light aircraft failed to land
on the runway, while numerous participants could not obtain
flight approval from related agencies. (52)