Karhutla Smoke Begins To Impact On Flights At Tjilik Riwut Airport

Tjilik Riwut Airport, Palangka Raya, Wednesday (27/9/2023). (ANTARA/HO-AP II Tjilik Riwut Airport)

PALANGKA RAYA- Forest and land fires (karhutla) that occurred in Palangka Raya City, Central Kalimantan caused smog, one of which now has an impact on flight activities at Tjilik Riwut Airport.

"The condition of smoke due to forest and land fires today caused three morning flights at 07.00 WIB to experience delays," said Tjilik Riwut Airport Executive General Manager (EGM) Ardha Wulanigara in Palangka Raya as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 27.

The three planes that had experienced delays were from Garuda Indonesia and Batik Air to Jakarta, as well as Lion Air to Surabaya.

The delay of the three flights that morning was due to the condition of the smog that caused visibility or visibility to only reach up to 400 m based on a report from the local Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

"However, the delay only happened in the morning, where the smog affected visibility. As for the three planes with flight schedules that morning, all of them started departing at around 09.30 WIB with a visibility condition of 1,000 m," he explained.

Ardha said that previously as of Monday (25/9) there had been no flight delays at Tjilik Riwut Airport, Palangka Raya due to smog caused by forest and land fires.

"Just today there was a flight delay at Tjilik Riwut Airport," he explained.

Ardha conveyed that his party was intensely coordinating with the local BMKG and AirNav regarding flight operations.

"Especially with regard to forest and land fires, so its relationship with aviation is visibility," he said.

His intense coordination was carried out with BMKG and AirNav, because the procedures related to operational disturbances caused by forest and land fires were further discussed with the two agencies.

"For example, if there is information from the BMKG, then it is forwarded to AirNav, then we usually just decide whether the conditions affect flight activity or not. This intense coordination is also one of our anticipations for the impact of forest and land fires," he explained.

Meanwhile, the frequency of flights at Tjilik Riwut Airport is still in normal condition, namely around 16 flights, both arrival and departure.

On the other hand, passenger movements are still in the range of 1,900-2,000 people per day. The available flight routes include Jakarta, Surabaya, and others.