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.