17 Sep 2015
BIAK- 17 September 2015, there was heavy rain over Biak. Large aircrafts were landing at Biak because of a bad weather or bad conditions in the flight. Rain clouds were quite heavy and thick enough, difficult for pilots to see because of the lack of visibility of the aircraft. Based on BMKG report, Frans Kaisiepo Airport experienced heavy rain, wind speed 18.5 km/h and visibility of 5.0 km.
Airlines were experiencing bad weather and landing at Biak include Garuda Indonesia flight number GA-656 route from Jakarta to Jayapura, Sriwijaya Air SJ-582 from Makassar who experienced delayed, Lion Air JT-798 from Makassar to Jayapura, and Batik Air ID -6180 from Makassar to Jayapura, and Garuda Indonesia GA-650 experienced RTB (return to Base) to Biak. Five Boeing 737 series wide body lined up neatly at the airport runway of Biak Frans Kaisiepo. Biak is usually only serve two Boeing 737 series and some of the best in its class pioneer, today is able to receive the 5 Boeing 737 series. That's something rare happened in Biak, 5 large enough aircraft and from different airlines lined in apron of Frans Kaisiepo airport.
According to Mr. Siswantomo as Operation Department Head PT. Angkasa Pura I (Persero) Biak met in front of the arrival terminal said that the landing had to be done because of bad weather the pilot visibility became limited, it will spend air plane fuel if remain on air and can be a risk of engine off and crash. So the best option was landing in a nearby landing zone, and the airport in Biak Frans Kaisiepo selected as the destination landing the planes.
Approximately 3 hours those aircraft were in Biak. According to some passengers, it’s the first time down in Biak. Some were panicked while in the air because the clouds are thick enough to cause shocks in the air. And we grateful to be able to land safely in Biak.
Frans Kaisiepo Airport, with diverse polemics and dynamics was still able to handle those aircraft. Its long runway and the topography which an island without a high mountain and hill was the best choice to land the plane, and was a strategic point in the flight routes in eastern Indonesia. [PR BIK]
