BNPB Conducts Cloud Seeding Operation Over West Aceh Skies

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), in cooperation with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), is carrying out a Weather Modification Operation (OMC) in West Aceh Regency and surrounding areas to extinguish land fires still occurring locally. "This operation is a mitigation and preparedness effort to prevent the spread of forest and land fires currently happening in West Aceh Regency," said Acting Head of BPBD West Aceh, Teuku Ronal Nehdiansyah, in Meulaboh on Wednesday. He explained that cloud seeding operations have been intensified to maintain water balance and suppress hotspots in vulnerable areas. Teuku Ronal said this weather modification operation is direct support from the central BNPB for the Aceh Province, particularly West Aceh and Nagan Raya, to prevent land fires from expanding. "We hope that with this technological intervention, rainfall intensity can be regulated to soak the drying peatlands," Teuku Ronal said. During Sortie 1, the aerial operation used a Cessna Caravan EX 208 aircraft with registration number PK-JVH, operated by PT Semuwa Aviasi Mandiri. This humanitarian mission flight was led by Capt. Rangga along with First Officer Arrafi. The operation was also accompanied by a team of experts, including Flight Scientist Roland and Tasya, as well as seeding material dispersal officers Khalis and Herman. Seeding focused on a blocking area with coordinates radial 130°–150° at a distance of 60–120 nautical miles, and a bearing of 140°/90 nm. The target area for seeding includes airspace over West Aceh Regency to Nagan Raya Regency. In this first sortie, the team dispersed at least 1,000 kilogrammes of seeding material in the form of table salt (NaCl) at an altitude of 5,000 to 10,000 feet. Through the dispersal of NaCl over potential clouds, the condensation process is expected to accelerate to stimulate rainfall in the designated zones. The West Aceh Regency Government has urged the public to remain calm and fully support the ongoing disaster mitigation efforts. Teuku Ronal added that similar operations are planned and will be continuously monitored based on atmospheric dynamics in the southern west coast of Aceh.