Garuda to Expand Papua Routes in April

Jakarta Globe, Feb 01, 2015

Garuda Indonesia plans to add three more routes to the two that it
currently operates out of Biak district in Papua. (ID Photo)

Jakarta. Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia plans to extend its network of routes in Papua, the country’s easternmost province, as part of a push to open up the region to greater development.

The airline has agreed to a request from its office in Biak district to fly three new routes as of April from Biak to Nabire, Serui and Wamena, local Garuda manager Wayan Supatrayasa told Kompas.com.

“The facilities at [Biak’s] Frans Kaisepo Airport very much allow for planes operating from Biak to serve passengers from around the Cendrawasih Bay region,” he said.

“I’m optimistic that the new routes will help improve access to isolated areas and improve those areas’ development,” he added.

Garuda currently operates just two routes from Biak: one to Jayapura, the Papua provincial capital, and another to Jakarta via Makassar in South Sulawesi.

Susi Air operates routes from Biak to other points around the region, including Serui and Manokwari.

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Jokowi: Papua Railway Development to Start in 2015

Jokowi: Papua Railway Development to Start in 2015

Jakarta Globe, Ezra Sihite, Dec 08, 2014

A railroad under construction in East Jakarta on Dec. 3, 2014. (Antara
Photo/Irene Renata)

Jakarta. The government will start building a railroad network in Papua next year, President Joko Widodo promised on Monday.

“The railway development in Papua will start next year. We want the provincial development agency to support us so the development can start as soon as possible,” Joko said on Monday during a teleconference with district heads and governors from Papua and Maluku, both in the east of the country. “We want the railways to reach higher areas in Papua.”

A preliminary study is set to be concluded in six months and building can start immediately afterward, the president said, adding that old railways in Biak that are no longer in use will also be reactivated from next year.

Besides railways, Joko wants to revamp the roads in the outlying parts of the country as well.

“We want the railway development to start immediately,” he said. “It’s time the eastern part of Indonesia receives more attention from the central government. We want to start developing together, maintain the unity [of the nation], and manage our border areas.”

Merpati plane crashed due to bad weather

Mariel Grazella, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 05/07/2011

Ministry of Transportation Director General Herry Bhakti said that heavy rains were the probable cause of the Merpati MA 60 plane crash on Saturday.

The airplane crashed at around 2 p.m on Saturday near the Utarung Kaimana Airport in West Papua.

“The weather was bad as there was heavy rainfall, which shortened the [pilot’s] range of vision. It was also very dark. Thus, the airplane did not reach the runway,” Herry told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

He added that the plane had crashed approximately 500 meters before the runway. It crashed into deep water, as the Utarung Kaimana Airport is situated next to the sea.

He further said that the body of the plane broke apart upon impact, which decreases any chances of survival.

The plane, which has a capacity of 50 people, was flying from Nabire, Papua, to Kaimana carrying 21 passengers and six crew members, he said.

He further added that a team of Search and Rescue officers, airport officials and local fishermen were conducting a search around the crash location.

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Stol planes most suitable for Papua

Antara News, Monday, January 18, 2010 03:53 WIB

Jayapura (ANTARA News) - The operation of STOL (short take off and landing) aircraft would be highly suitable for use in Papua as the area full of steep maintain ranges with average heights of more than 100 meters above sea level.

"Besides extreme geographical and weather conditions, Papua very suitable for STOL aircraft," Director of PT Unitrade Persada Nusantara, an air transportation company, Satya Graha Utama said here Sunday.

A STOL plane could even take off and land on grassy airstrip, she said.

Satya said STOL planes are especially useful for operation in Papua because most of the airstrips there are relatively short, simple, with minimum facilities.

Planes with STOL qualifications include Twin Otters, Cesna Caravans, and Pilatus Porters, he added.

He said that for a smoother development of Papua, especially in its air transportation, the government needs to increase the capacity and facilities of its airports, especially in the transportation of logistics to the hinterhand.

Up to December 2009, several airline companies had been flying to the hinterlands of Papua carrying passengers and cargo, including Merpati Nusantara Airlines, Trigana Air Service, Avia Star Mandiri, Pelita Air Service, Deraya Air Cargo, and Air Pacifik Utama.

Besides, six religious institutions are also flying over the area reaching the hinterlands, they include Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), Tariku Aviation, Yayasan Jasa Aviasi (Yajasi), Aviation Mission Association (AMA), Adventist Aviation Indonesia, and Helimission.

According to the Papua provincial air transportation agency, there are now 269 airports, but only 30 of which have asphalted air strips, while those of the remaining 239 still have grass airstrips.