REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SUMENEP -- The Government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of Transportation, plans to extend the runway of Trunojoyo Airport in Sumenep district on Madura Island, East Java province, in 2016, stated the airport's spokesman, Wahyu Siswoyo.
"The runway extension plan is the Transportation Ministry's commitment to develop the Trunojoyo Airport, and the funds for the project have been allocated in the State Budget 2016," Siswoyo noted in Sumenep on Tuesday.
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 three conditions must be met by the Sumenep district government to extend the runway: the availability of land, relocation of buildings that hinder flight safety, and the delivery of assets.
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"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 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 make Trunojoyo a commercial airport ready to serve regular flights.
In 2011, a 5.4-hectare plot of land was acquired for the airport's expansion, and the extension of its runway from 905 meters to 1,160 meters.
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