No kite flying near airport: Official

TANGERANG (JP): Soekarno Hatta International Airport authorities have urged residents living near the airport to refrain from flying kites, as the activity could endanger flights.

Mulyono, the operational director of state-owned airport managing firm PT Perum Angkasa Pura II, said the plea was made because the kites could be sucked up by the air intake of a plane, which could lead to an accident.

"So far there has been no accident because of (this practice) here. But we've received many complaints from foreign airlines about the distraction of the kites," Mulyono said on Friday.

He said he had experienced an encounter with a kite when he flew a small plane outside Java.

"I was shocked to see a kite in front of me. I thought it was another passing plane," he said, adding that he managed to avoid the kite as the plane he flew was not a large aircraft.

On Sunday, dozens of kites in different sizes and models still heavily crowded the skies near the landing zone of the international airport.

Meanwhile, Tangerang Mayor M. Thamrin said residents living near the airport could be categorized as poor people who have lived in slum areas for more than 30 years.

"Their residences will possibly be rearranged in line with the airport expansion plan," Thamrin said.

Mulyono said the airport would be expanded by another 780 hectares up to the year 2007.

"The expansion will occur to anticipate a sharp increase in the number of passengers, which is estimated to reach 27 million a year," he said, adding that the current number was 18 million passengers a year. (41/jun)