HELICOPTER ASSESSMENT: MEDAN – PASAR SINGKIL (vic 97.75E 2.25N)

08 January 2005

• Highlights:
• Sibolga (vic 98.75E 1.75N):
• Pasar Singkil (vic 97.75E 2.25N):
• Blangpidi (vic 96.75E 3.75N):

Highlights:

• Difficulty to get re-fuelled in Sibolga.
• Coast, south of Susoh (vic 96.75E 3.75N), does not appear to be affected, as OFDA Tsunami damage assessment, dated 29 Dec 04. North of that is affected to Banda Aceh.

Sibolga (vic 98.75E 1.75N):

• TNI proved very bureaucratic in giving fuel, a process which took over 3 hours
• Assessment:
  1. Runway: 1,700 m
  2. Apron: 50m x 100m
  3. Location: 30 Km S-SE of town
  4. Controlled by TNI
  5. No ATC. There are VOR and NDB
  6. Operating hours: 0700 – 1700 hrs
  7. Comms: Ground – Air using VHF
  8. Handling Equipment: It appears there is ground handling equipment, but only hand operated handling equipment was seen
  9. Fuel: Mainly for military. Stored in drums. Needs to be paid in Medan ($0.37/l)
  10. Aircraft: The following aircraft were seen on the tarmac; Fokker F27, 2
  11. Airbus (?), C-130. All were going through.

Pasar Singkil (vic 97.75E 2.25N):

• Identified heli landing site adjacent to the port in Singkil
• At least 2 x other heli pads in town, by stadium, opposite police station. Fuel storage with police. Offered by local authorities
• Warehouse 600 sq.m., adjacent to the warf is in good condition
• Warf: 45-50 m long, told 5 m draft, lots of activity, no handling eqpt
  observed, controlled gate, room to store fuel
• Road access to port has culverts, which may be an issue for heavy trucks
• Harbour and channels reportedly clear

Blangpidi (vic 96.75E 3.75N):

• WFP food was flown to Blangpidi before being taken by sea to two islands
• Airport has 800m runway
• Substantive Port, but was not assessed