Buleleng promises new airfield
Buleleng promises new airfield
By Pariama Hutasoit
BULELENG, North Bali (JP): Buleleng might be one of Bali's poorest regencies, but thanks to its airfield, it has successfully hosted an international-scale airshow, Buleleng Fly- in 2001.
The experience, according to head of Buleleng Transportation Agency Bagus Puja Erawan, was worthwhile.
"The airfield is not yet equipped with the facilities necessary if we want to change it from a second-class airport into one of international standard," he said.
Originally, the Lt. Col. Wisnu airfield -- which is located in the remote village of Sumberkima, around 65 kilometers west of the regency capital of Singaraja -- was built by the Dutch colonial government as a temporary airstrip. After being neglected for more than 50 years, the regency then tried to refurbish all existing facilities and upgrade its status to that of an airfield.
Currently, the airfield only has a 690-meter-long runway, capable of accommodating Cassa Stoll aircraft. With a 14-hectare plot of land and its short runway, the airfield can only accommodate 30 light aircraft.
The regency plans to lengthen the runway to between 1,200 meters and 1300 meters.
"It is expected that by then, at least 60-seat Dust 7, Fokker 27 and Fokker 28 could land here," said Erawan. He added that the plan would require around Rp 22 billion of investment, not only to improve the runway, but also navigation, lighting systems and other facilities.
Secretary-general of ASEAN Federation Flying Club, K.N. Singh, said it would be ideal if the airfield had a runway of between 1,200 meters and 1,400 meters in length.
"But, physically, this airfield is adequate to accommodate light aircraft and other kinds of aerosports activities," Singh commented.
However, he expressed optimism that in the future, the airfield could be developed into one of the aerosports centers in the Southeast Asia region. However, Singh thought it necessary to simplify all procedures, like flight approval, security clearance and diplomatic clearance, to attract more domestic and foreign aviators to the airfield.
Compared with other member countries of ASEAN, Indonesia does not yet have standardized and simplified procedures, which could lure foreign aviators to the country.
"It takes quite a long time to apply for any permit to fly to Indonesia," Singh said.
Former executive director of the Indonesian Aerosport Federation (FASI) Junior Marshal (ret.) Tamtama Adi, was eager to transform the airfield into an aerosports education center.
"We have already have such a facility at Lido, Sukabumi in West Java," he said.
Second airport
In the future, Lt. Col. Wisnu airfield will be developed as Bali's second airport, to complement the present Ngurah Rai International Airport in Kuta, South Bali.
By 2003, the new airfield is expected to accommodate flights using light aircraft. Currently, commercial and private light aircraft flying to places like Surabaya in East Java, Lombok and Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara, and East Nusa Tenggara can land only at Ngurah Rai airport, making it one of the busiest in Indonesia.
To carry out the plan, however, will require a huge amount of money, something that the regency does not have.
However, Buleleng regent Ketut Wiratha Sindhu sounds quite ambitious. "We plan to invite private investors to help develop the airport and its adjacent areas," the regent said during the airshow last weekend.
It was reported that Yusuf Merukh, a businessman and one of the shareholders of PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara in Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, had detected a business opportunity here in North Bali. Merukh was reportedly eager to use the airfield to facilitate travel for his 750 non-local workers wanting to travel to Bali. It was further reported that the businessman was planning to build a condominium on a 200-hectare plot of land, formerly owned by PT Tekad Andika Dharma.
North Bali has abundant tourist attractions, such as underwater recreational sites, beautiful beaches and mountainous areas. But not many people are aware of these since it takes around 3.5 hours to drive from the provincial capital, Denpasar to the regency. The development of Lt. Col. Wisnu airfield is certainly hoped to open up this remote area.