Jakarta, (Antara) - Considered ineffective, the pioneering flight between Sumenep-Jember route from Trunojoyo airport to Notahadinegoro airport will soon come to an end in 2016.
Early in 2015, the Ministry of Transportation opened four pioneering routes by utilizing Trunojoyo airport in Sumenep District on Madura island in East Java.
The four pioneering routes are Sumenep-Surabaya, Surabaya-Sumenep, Sumenep-Jember, and Jember-Sumenep.
But Trunojoyo airport management spokesman Wahyu Siswoyo remarked in Sumenep on Wednesday that based on an evaluation made by the airport management and relevant parties form the Ministry of Transportation, the Sumenep-Jember pioneering flight which started operation since May 2015 was not effective.
"Such a condition will force the Ministry of Transportation to no longer make the Sumenep-Jember pioneering flight and vise versa part of its program in 2016," Siswoyo noted.
According to him, the pioneering flight in Sumenep-Jember route and otherwise from Trunojoyo airport was assessed ineffective, while for Sumenep-Surabaya route is still considered effective and will continue to be maintained in 2016.
Anyway, the Ministry of Transportation plans to transform the Trunojoyo airport in Sumenep district into a commercial airport in the East Java province.
Sumenep district government has expressed its readiness to provide land to extend the airport runway and expand its terminal in order to accommodate larger aircraft in the future.
Trunojoyo airport was built by the district government of Sumenep in 1978, and 30 years later, in 2008, it was handed over to the Ministry of Transportation which managed it and developed it further in 2009 with funds from the state budget and regional budget.
Siswoyo remarked in Sumenep earlier that the Ministry of Transportation will extend the Trunojoyo airport's runway in 2016.
"The runway extension plan is part of the Transportation Ministry's commitment to develop this Airport, and funds for the project have been allocated in the State Budget 2016," Siswoyo noted.
He explained that the runway is currently 1.2 thousand meters in length and some 20 meters in width, but it will be extended to 1.6 thousand meters in length, with a width of 30 meters.
"After the runway is extended, the Trunojoyo airport can accommodate aircraft with a capacity of about 70 passengers," he remarked, adding that the expansion of the airport depends on the Sumenep district government.
Siswoyo pointed out that the Sumenep district government must meet three conditions to extend the runway: make available land, relocate the buildings that hinder flight safety, and the ensure delivery of assets to the ministry.
"The local government should relocate the buildings that pose a hindrance to flight safety, provide land for the extension of the runway, and formally hand over the airport's assets to the Ministry of Transportation," Siswoyo noted.
He expressed the hope that the Sumenep district government would immediately fulfill the three conditions, so that the expansion of Trunojoyo airport in 2016 can be realized.
The district government and the Trunojoyo Airport's Working Unit continue to cooperate to improve the facilities and infrastructure at the airport.
The Ministry of Transportation has expressed its commitment to support the local government's efforts to develop Trunojoyo airport into a commercial one so that it can serve commercial flights.
In 2011, a 5.4-hectare plot of land was acquired for the airport's expansion, and for extending its runway from 905 meters to 1,160 meters.
Sumenep District Head Busyro Karim has expressed his readiness to acquire land for the extension of the runway and terminal building, and this year the local government freed 5.4 hectares area for this purpose.
According to him, the local government will free up more land as per requirement for the airport's development.
He noted that land acquisition was carried out in the past in stages because of limited funds, but now the central government wants it carried out at a larger scale so that the expansion of the airport can be achieved at the earliest.
Busyro has expressed the hope that land acquisition will be completed within this year, so that construction work for the extension of the runway and terminal construction could begin in 2016.
During his visit to Sumenep last September, Transportation Minister Ignatius Jonan remarked that the Ministry of Transportation is ready to turn Trunojoyo into a commercial airport as long as there is commitment and participation of the local government to prepare the land for airport development.
"We will develop all the existing airports in the region, but the local government should also participate in the efforts," the Transportation Minister had noted at that time.
In September 2015, Jonan paid a working visit to Sumenep, particularly to the Trunojoyo airport to check its real condition.
According to him, the Trunojoyo airport's runway will be extended in the near future, and the Ministry of Transportation is ready to do it in 2016 if the local government readies the land.
"Trunojoyo airport in Sumenep must be developed to become a commercial airport to accommodate commercial aircraft with regular flights," the minister noted.
Situated at the eastern end of Madura island in East Java, Sumenep district desperately needs air transport services to cater to the tourists and other visitors.
Sumenep has many historical sites such as Kraton and Tiny Museum, along with traditional arts and cultural attractions such as mask dances and bull races, as well as the beautiful beaches of Lombangh and Slopeng.
Regarding the transportation-related problems facing Sumenep, the local district administration expressed the optimism that commercial flights to the district's Trunojoyo airport would materialize soon.
