Natuna Air Base Activates Air Command Post to Support Forest and Land Fire Response

Natuna (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Air Force Base Raden Sadjad (Lanud RSA) Natuna in Riau Islands Province has activated an air command post to support the handling of forest and land fires (karhutla) in that Indonesian border region.

The Commander of Lanud RSA Natuna, First Marshal TNI Onesmus Gede Rai Aryadi, confirmed from Batam on Tuesday that the post had been activated since Monday (30/3).

“The post is activated as a precautionary measure to address potential fires due to the dry season,” he said.

In recent days, according to him, forest and land fires in Natuna have been reported to have scorched more than 100 hectares of land.

This situation has prompted the Natuna Regency Government, along with other local agencies, to carry out integrated handling and request assistance from the central government.

“The request has been approved, so the central government is sending an air fleet to support karhutla handling. The air fleet consists of aeroplanes and helicopters,” he stated.

On the same day, the Lanud RSA Commander, along with stakeholders, directly inspected readiness at the site, including checks on the air fleet and firefighting equipment.

He emphasised that this readiness is part of the integrated efforts by the local government together with TNI and Polri in facing the karhutla threat in Natuna.

Onesmus explained that a BNPB helicopter of the AS350B3e type has arrived and is ready for water bombing operations with a 1,000-litre bucket capacity.

In addition, an OMC aeroplane of the Thrush S2R-T34 type is also prepared for weather modification operations with a capacity of up to 1.3 tonnes.