TEMPO.CO, Pekanbaru - Authorities of Sultan Syarif Kasim International Airport II Pekanbaru said that 10 flights, both domestic and international route had to delay landing at the airport because of the pilots’ limited visibility.
"Until now, there have been 10 flight delays of arrival or departure of both domestic and international routes," said Sultan Syarif Kasim II Air Port Duty Manager, Toni Hendrik in Pekanbaru, Wednesday, September 2.
He suggested several airlines to delay the landing process or for flights that are still at the airport of origin, to delay their departure since pilot visibility in the local airport is limited or only 500 meters.
Airport management had to take the decision since the condition is dangerous for the safety of commercial flights due to land and forest fires in Sumatra.
"These delays are due to thick haze. There are at least five airline departure delays, that will automatically delay arrivals as well," he said.
Currently, Toni said, flight schedule to and from the capital of Riau province was chaotic since hundreds of people who were scheduled to fly became stranded at the airport because there is no certainty.
Since the early days at 7:20 am was peak time for airlines to land at Sultan Syarif Kasim II Pekanbaru, but this morning Citilink QG 963 from Jakarta to Pekanbaru has yet to land.
"We do not know for sure, when flight activity started smoothly because of limited visibility. When the sun has emerged and we hope that some of the flights could be flown according to their schedule," he said.
Meteorology and Geophysics Station Pekanbaru states, four regencies/cities in Riau is now shrouded in thick haze with visibility ranging from 400 meters to 800 meters.
"Palalawan was the region with the worst visibility to 400 meters, 500 meters in Pekanbaru, Dumai and Rengat are 700 and 800 meters, respectively,” said Head of BMKG station Pekanbaru, Sugarin.
He explained that based on the Terra and Aqua satellite imagery on Wednesday at 7 am, there were 134 hotspots in 11 counties and cities in Riau.
Of 134 hot spots, 98 of which have been confirmed as fire hotspots with a confidence level above 70 percent.
Palalawan is the largest contributor with 36 hotspots hotspots, then Indragiri Hilir with 24 fires, 16 fires Iin ndragiri Hulu, Kampar and Kuantan Singingi each with the nine hotspots.
"Furthermore Rokan Siak Hulu and each have three hotspots, Bengkalis two fires and Meranti one fire hotspot," he said.
ANTARA
