Regent Deploys Two Excavators to Secure Sampit Airport Flight Safety Zone
Palangka Raya (ANTARA) - The Regent of East Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan, Halikinnor, has directly instructed and monitored the operation of two excavators to create canals and firebreaks. This measure is intended to secure the Flight Operation Safety Zone (KKOP) of Haji Asan Sampit Airport from forest and land fires (karhutla).
“Two excavators are being used to create firebreak canals and roads for our officers, making it easier to extinguish land fires in deeper areas,” said Halikinnor in Sampit on Tuesday.
Based on Law Number 1 of 2009 concerning Aviation, the KKOP is a territory comprising land, water, and/or airspace around an airport used for flight operations to ensure aviation safety and security.
The recent surge in forest and land fires has been acknowledged to have impacted flight activities at Haji Asan Sampit Airport. Dense haze has previously caused aircraft to cancel landings and subsequent flights to be delayed or cancelled.
Responding to this situation, Halikinnor has ordered that the handling of forest and land fires around the airport be intensified, particularly within the KKOP area. Naturally, fire prevention efforts in other locations are also being maximised.
To this end, two excavators have been deployed as part of an effort to increase the security of the KKOP against forest fires. The hope is that the area will be kept free from fires and haze so that aviation activities are not disrupted.
According to Halikinnor, the excavators are creating canals that serve as roads and firebreaks to prevent fire from spreading if a land fire occurs. These breaks are being constructed around critical locations that must be secured for flight safety.
In addition to creating firebreaks, the two excavators are also searching for locations suitable for the construction of reservoirs (embung). If a sufficiently low-lying area is found, it will be excavated to serve as a water source to facilitate land fire suppression.
The Head of the Department of Water Resources, Highways, Construction, Public Housing, and Settlement Areas (SDABMB ext{MBKPRKP}) of East Kotawaringin, Mentana Dhinar Tistama, is optimistic that this step will be effective in securing the area from forest fires so that flight activities are no longer disrupted.
“The initial estimate for the firebreak canal is approximately one kilometre, stretching from Tjilik Riwut Road to Jaksa Road. Currently, we are still focusing on extinguishing remaining embers by using wet mud at the site,” said Mentana.