Speeded Until The End Of This Month, Mentawai Rokot Airport Is Ready For ATR Aircraft

Director General of Hubud Maria Kristi Endah Murni (Photo: Doc. Antara)

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation targets the construction of Rokot Airport to be completed by the end of March 2023.

This was conveyed by the Director General of Civil Aviation, Maria Kristi Endah Murni after making a working visit to Rokot Airport in Mentawai Islands Regency.

"Hopefully it can be completed by the end of March 2023, development must be completed according to the specified target," Kristi said in an official statement, Thursday, March 2.

Kristi hopes that after verification, flight calibration, AIC publication and other technical requirements, Rokot Airport, which has just been able to serve flights on ATR 72 aircraft.

"The new Rokot Airport has a runway of 1500 x 30 meters, so that later it will be able to land the ATR 72 aircraft with a passenger capacity of around 70 people," he said.

On the land side, 1,610m2 terminals have been built and several supporting facilities such as Office Buildings, PKP-PK Buildings, Cargo Terminals, Operational Buildings such as Power Houses and Pump Houses, parking lots and neighborhood roads.

Kristi explained that the construction of this new airport will replace the existing airport, namely Sipora Rokot Airport, which currently only has a runway length of 850 meters. So, only Grand Caravan propeller aircraft can accommodate.

Currently, the flights operating serve pioneering air transportation routes with the Minangkabau-Rokot PP Airport flight route, using the Grand Caravan aircraft operated by Susi Air with a frequency of twice a week.

Kristi said the construction of this airport is an effort to increase connectivity between regions around the Mentawai Islands, so it is hoped that it can increase the tourism sector in the islands, which is famous for the waves being hunted by surfing sports fans in the world.

"In addition, this airport is also a disaster mitigation airport, because we know that natural disasters often occur such as earthquakes in the Mentawai Islands. So it is hoped that the development of this airport can accommodate larger aircraft for disaster mitigation," he explained.

Furthermore, Kristi hopes that the synergy between the Regional Government, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and aviation stakeholders will continue to be established, so that connectivity and community needs in the 3TP area can be met and the disaster mitigation process can run well.

On the same occasion, PJ. Mentawai Islands Regent Martinus Dahlan expressed his gratitude for the support from the Director General of Civil Aviation who directly monitored the airport development process. He also hopes that the development of Rokot Airport can be completed according to the specified time target.

"The entry of ATR aircraft with more seating capacity, of course, will have a direct impact on the economic sector, support MSMEs and increase tourism visits from within the country and foreign tourists in the Mentawai Islands," said Martinus.