Jakarta, (Antara) - The Trunojoyo Airport in Sumenep District, situated at the eastern end of Madura Island in East Java Province, is now serving as a flight training center for several flying schools.
With adequate facilities and a less crowded airspace around it, the Trunojoyo Airport is qualified to become a flight training center on Madura Island.
The airport has seven flight paths for flight training, and therefore, it is an opportunity for the Ministry of Transportation to optimally utilize the aerodrome.
Until well into early 2017, five flying schools had been operating at the Trunojoyo Airport in Sumenp District, according to Wahyu Siswoyo, the chief class III airport operator of Trunojoyo.
"Earlier, there were two flying schools in Trunojoyo, and later, two more had become operational by the end of May 2016, but now, in 2017, the number has increased to five," Siswoyo remarked in Sumep on Monday.
The five flying schools now operating in Trunojoyo Airport are Aviaterra Flying School, Merpati Pilot School, Trans Asia Pacific Aviation Training Pilot School, Flight Training Education Center of Banyuwangi, and Global Aviation School.
Apart from these pilot schools, there are three others that want to utilize the Trunojoyo Airport to conduct practical training.
Siswoyo revealed that he had received a formal request from the three other flying schools that were keen to make the Trunojoyo Airport a location for offering flight training to their students.
He stated that last year, the Ministry of Transportation had improved the Trunojoyo Airport's facilities, including widening and extending the runway along with constructing the airport's apron.
"The construction of the Trunojoyo Airport's apron will increase its capacity. Hence, it will become possible for other flight schools to operate at the airport," Siswoyo added.
The work on extending Trunojoyo airport's runway from 1,200 meters to 1,600 meters in length, and from 20 meters to 30 meters in width was completed in 2016.
Similarly, the construction of an aircraft parking area that can accommodate up to three ATR 72 type aircraft, with each having a passenger capacity of 70, has also been completed, according to Siswoyo.
He reiterated in Sumenep that the work on the extension of the airport's runway has been completed, and he expressed hope that there will be a quick response from the local government in terms of land acquisition at the end of the runway for the fencing to meet the aviation safety standard.
Land area around the end of the runway on the west side that should be released by the Sumenep district government last year was around five hectares.
The extension and widening of the runway of the Trunojoyo Airport was necessary, so that it can be used for commercial flight activities.
Since 2015, Trunojoyo Airport has been one of the airports in East Java, which served pioneering flights, with the capacity of 15 to 20 passengers.
But now the extension work on the runway has been completed so that the Trunojoyo airport can function as a commercial airfield that accommodate aircraft with a capacity of some 70 passengers.
Siswoyo has said that the Trunjoyo airport is currently accommodating pioneer aircraft with the capacity of 15 passengers.
But the renovation project ran smoothly and has been completed so that the airport will be able to serve commercial flights early this year.
However, he acknowledged that to turn Trunojoyo into a commercial airport is not as easy as turning the palm of the hand, because there must be certainty for the commercial flight operators for not loss when utilizing the airport.
In addition, the Trunojoyo airport operation also needs time to communicate with commercial flight operators who want to utilize the airport.
"The commercial flights operator will certainly conduct market survey to ensure that they will have nothing to lose, if they operate commercial aircraft in Trunojoyo airport," Siswoyo remark.
He asked the Sumenep district government to explore cooperation with the commercial flight operators so that they may be pleased to utilize the airport.
"We are ready to assist the local government to realize Trunojoyo service as a commercial airport. Again, if all goes well, Trunojoyo service is feasible for commercial aircraft flight activity in early 2017," Siswoyo confirmed.
In the meantime, Sumenep District Transportation Office Chief Mohammad Fadillah explained that his party will work together with the relevant parties in the Ministry of Transport to conduct an assessment with commercial aviation operators.
"To realize Trunojoyo Airport into a commercial airport it needs a cooperation with all stakeholders, including the private sector. We hope that efforts to make Trunojoyo a commercial airport can materialize," he said.
He expressed hope that turning Trunojoyo into commercial airport will support tourism in Sumenep.
Situated at the eastern end of Madura island in East Java, Sumenep district needs air transport services in order for tourists and other visitors to enjoy its interesting sites.
Sumenep has many historical sites such as Kraton and Tiny Museum, along with traditional arts and cultural attractions such as mask dances and bull race, as well as the beautiful beaches of Lombangh and Slopeng.
From Surabaya's Tanjung Perak harbour, it takes more than four hours to reach Sumenep by bus or taxi.
Sumenep can also be reached from Bali by passing through Banyuwangi to reach Jangkar Port in Situbondo district, and then crossing by ferry from Jangkar Port to Kalianget sub-district in Sumenep district. However, all of this takes several days.
Regarding the transportation-related problems facing Sumenep, the local district administration expressed optimism that commercial flights to the district's Trunojoyo airport would materialize soon.
For the past several years, the local district government and the Airport Working Unit had been making efforts to make the airport eligible for handling commercial flights on a regular basis.(*)
