New Airport Terminal to Operate Next Year
BANYUWANGI – Development of Blimbingsari Airport continues to show positive developments. Recent progress, The airport, which is the pride of the people of Blambangan, can accommodate aircraft with the maximum capacity 140 passenger, namely Boeing 737-500.
Even though it can be landed, The Banyuwangi Regency Government continues to strive to accelerate the construction of the airport. last Friday (26/8) Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas by picking up the ball to the Minister of Transportation (Minister of Transportation) Budi Karya Sumadi.
Result, The Minister of Transportation Budi Karya fully supports the development of the airport located in Blimbingsari Village, Rogojampi Kecamatan District, the. Even, Ministry of Communications (Ministry of Transportation) will allocate a budget for the thickening of the runway (runway) Blimbingsari Airport next year.
Information obtained, The current thickness of the Blimbingsari Airport runway reaches 28 pavement classification number (PCN). Nah, forward, airport runway this one will be upgraded to 40 PCN. The thickening process will be carried out from the start 2017.
“Alhamdulillah, me yesterday (Friday) met the Minister of Transportation Pak Budi Karya Sumadi. He really supports the development of Banyuwangi Airport. There are a number of budgets allocated for thickening (runway) early 2017," said Anas.
Anas said, in addition to preparing a budget for runway thickening, Kermenhub also supports Boeing-type aircraft 737-500 operating immediately at Blimbingsari Airport. Boeing aircraft 373-500 actually it can operate at Blimbingsari Airport without waiting for the thickening of the run-way early next year. Because, The current thickness of the runway can accommodate aircraft with a maximum capacity of as many passengers 140 that person.
It is just, for Boeing to land on 373-500, The Ministry of Transportation requests an increase in Aviation Accident Assistance and Fire Fighting facilities (PKPPK) fulfilled. “PKPPK is quite expensive, more advanced extinguisher models. While waiting from the Ministry of Transportation, we were given a solution to temporarily rent to PT. Angkasa Pura,Said Anas.
If it can land a Boeing-type aircraft 737-500, Jakarta-Banyuwangi direct flights can be realized as soon as possible. "Some time ago there were airlines that wanted to take wide-body aircraft, but from a technical point of view the ministry has not yet permitted it. If there is already a good PKPPK, the plane was able to land," he said.
Anas added, his party also reported the construction of the final stage of the new terminal at Banyuwangi Airport which was built at the expense of the East Java and Banyuwangi Provincial Budgets. The terminal with green architecture and accommodating local culture is scheduled to operate early 2017.
In the concept of almost no air conditioning, the terminal is ensured to stay cool by adjusting the air circulation, water treatment, and a variety of plants right up to the roof of the terminal. The architecture of the Blimbingsari Airport terminal adopts the typical Oseng roof model.
Not only that, The culture of the local people who are always in groups when leaving their relatives to travel is also accommodated by providing a platform that leads directly to the runway.. Anas added, his party took the initiative to build a new terminal two years ago without waiting for central government assistance due to the drastic increase in passengers.
“This is a model of central and regional cooperation that needs to be developed. We took the initiative to build a new terminal, The Ministry of Transportation supports aspects of flight safety. Central and regional synergy is very meaningful for the region," he explained.
Anas says, the inauguration of the new terminal is quite urgent because the existing terminal is unable to accommodate passengers. While waiting for the completion of the new terminal, The Ministry of Transportation will renovate the old terminal by widening the departure hall.
"The Ministry of Transportation will revamp the old terminal a bit so that passengers do not spill over to the outside of the departure hall. We apologize because all this time passengers have to wait in an uncomfortable atmosphere, because the increase in passengers was very significant and the old terminal was no longer able to accommodate them,Said Anas.
Just knowing, the number of passengers at Blimbingsari Airport has indeed jumped up 1.308 percent of only 7.826 passengers on 2011 Becomes 110.234 passengers in years 2015. Enter 2016, The frequency of flights to and from Banyuwangi has also increased from two times a day to three times a day.
Two airlines serving flights on the Surabaya-Banyuwangi route go back and forth (PP) both use ATR aircraft 72-600 capacity of 70 passengers. (radar)
