No kite flying near airport: Official

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)