Komodo Labuan Bajo Airport Beware Of Volcanic Dust Lewotobi Eruption

The atmosphere of the Komodo Labuan Bajo Airport area, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). BETWEEN/HO-Gecio Viana

LABUAN BAJO - Komodo Labuan Bajo Airport Organizing Unit (UPBU) Office is wary of the spread of volcanic ash due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) which can have an impact on flight safety.

"We from the airport in coordination with the Airport IV Authority Office in Bali are asked that all airports remain vigilant regarding wind changes that cause volcanic ash to likely reach the furthest point," said Head of the Komodo Labuan Bajo UPBU Office, Ceppy Triono, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 3.

He explained that domestic flights at Komodo Labuan Bajo Airport have so far been running normally, although on January 2, 2024, satellites monitored the spread of volcanic ash from Mount Lewotobi Men reached West Manggarai airspace with an altitude of above 10,000 thousand feet.

"Yesterday at 18.18 WITA there was a notification by the BMKG that there had been a spread (of volcanic ash) to Komodo Airport, even though it was very far away. But we saw yesterday that all flights were still running normally and smoothly. This means that there were no significant obstacles, because maybe the ashes were already quite spread and were not harmful to flights, but we were asked to remain vigilant because the influence of the wind could carry volcanic ash," he said.

He admitted that he continued to coordinate with BMKG and together with airline personnel continued to monitor the spread of volcanic ash due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki.

Meanwhile, Head of BMKG Komodo Station Maria Patricia Christin Seran said the latest monitoring of the development of the spread of volcanic ash in the SIAM BMKG application, that the volcanic ash distribution area had no longer reached the West Manggarai area.

"If you look at the weather modeling for the direction of the wind, then the movement of volcanic ash to the west as mentioned in this SIGMET code with a speed of 5 knots or about 9-10 km/hour. Later there will be updates or updates from SIGMET information regarding the distribution of volcanic ash," he said.

For the impact on flights, he continued, BMKG always coordinates with aviation institutions related to the spread of volcanic ash due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki.

"BMKG has also provided information to aviation institutions to avoid areas around the volcanic ash distribution of Mount Lewotobi in the form of SIGMET passwords in accordance with applicable flight regulations," he said.