Bali to host international airshow
Bali to host international airshow
SINGARAJA, Bali (JP): An international airshow called Buleleng
Fly-In 2001, is scheduled to take place at the Lt. Col. Wisnu
airfield in the village of Sumberkima, Gerogak district, some 65
kilometers west of Buleleng regency capital, Singaraja on Aug.
24.
Air Force Chief Commander Marshal Hanafie Asnan is scheduled
to open the airshow and the state minister for tourism and
culture I Gede Ardhika and Minister for Transportation Agum
Gumelar will be among the VIP guests to attend the three-day
event.
Participants from ASEAN member countries, Taiwan, Australia
and some European countries are expected to join the event.
The event will include an aerobatics show, parachuting, a
spot-landing competition, air-tours of the area and a mini air-
rally and demonstrations of other aviation sports.
On the second day, students and local children are to be given
the opportunity to enjoy several flights aboard light aircraft.
In addition to various aerosports demonstrations, the event
will also include the ASEAN Federation of Flying Club Council
Meeting at Batu Ampar Tourist Resort, trade exhibition and
traditional performing arts.
The Buleleng Fly-In 2001 is mainly intended to promote Wisnu
airfield as a second-grade airport catering for passengers from
northern and western parts of the province and to promote
Buleleng in North Bali as an alternative tourist destination
beside Kuta, Sanur and Ubud in South Bali.
Prior to the last six decades, the Wisnu airfield originally
belonged to the Dutch colonial air force.
Renovation started a few years ago to upgrade all facilities
needed to revive the airfield, which is designed to accommodate
light aircraft only.
Buleleng regent Ketut Wiratha Sindhu said he wished that the
reopening of the airfield would bring prosperity to his regency,
currently one of Bali's poorest areas.
Singaraja was once the capital city of Bali, but the local
government decided to move the capital city to Denpasar in the
early 1960s.
Tourism and other business activities were centered in the
southern part of Bali leaving other regencies destitute.
Since August last year, a number of resorts adjacent to the
site have used the airfield to transport their guests from
Denpasar to remote places such as the village of Pemuteran and
its surrounding areas.
On April 13, members of the Singaporean and Malaysian
Aerosport Association flew their light aircraft along the
Singapore-Palembang-Bandung route and landed at Wisnu airfield. (52)