KUCHING, June 16: Mukah’s new airport is set begin operations tomorrow (June 17).
As Mukah airport is a STOLport (Short Take-Off and Landing airport), the new airport will replace the old one which can accommodate ATR aircraft, compared to only Twin Otter airplanes previously.
According to Unit Komunikasi Awam Sarawak (UKAS), the first operational flight that will land at the terminal building tomorrow at 9.10am, Malaysia Airlines flight MH3553 coming from Miri.
This will be followed by a departing flight leaving at 9.30am on the same day, Malaysia Airlines MH3412 to Kuching.
The highly anticipated new RM360 million airport is deemed as another major and important development of Mukah.
Among the facilities equipped are immigration counters, quarantine section, government staff quarters and new facilities for an air traffic control tower.
Meanwhile, Minister of Transport Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong in a statement said the new airport was designed with better comfort in mind for Mukah residents, making it a new rural hub for air travel and cargo shipping.
Construction began on Aug 11, 2017, with a accommodation capacity of up to 265,000 passengers per year and larger aircraft if needed.
Located some seven kilometres from Mukah town, it sits on a 3,125 square-metre land, with a 1,500-metre by 30-metre runway, while the apron and taxiway are 15 metres.
The airport also provides parking capacity for 100 cars, 20 taxis, two buses and a space for 20 motorcycles.
Alongside the air traffic control tower, there are also offices to house the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, Meteorological Department, and Fire and Rescue Services.
The facility is equipped with Wing and Runway Visual Range (WRVR) system and Doppler VHF Omnidirectional Range (DVOR) radio navigation system as well as a simple approach lighting system.
“The Ministry and Sarawak state government are confident that the new Mukah airport will be a catalysing factor to the development of the Sarawak Government’s Economic Plan for Score (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy).
“New Mukah Airport is expected to encourage more local economic growth by facilitating the movement of various export goods including agriculture and aquaculture products such as sago, pineapples, and umai, a local delicacy.
“The coastal district of Mukah is an area known for its food and agricultural products as part of Sarawak’s food basket area stretching from Betong to Sarikei,” Wee said.
With the operation of the New Mukah Airport, he also hoped that the supplies of Covid-19 vaccines for rural areas can be expedited to build herd immunity through the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme. — DayakDaily
