Summary
Content
23rd MARCH, 2005
INDONESIA AIR OPERATION
- For a complete view of air operations please sea the Air operations Update.
- The UNJLC Special Feature this week is: Air Ops/UNHAS/UNJLC. http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/32664 Hard copies will be available at the Medan, Banda Aceh and Meulaboh offices this week.
- In order to meet the additional airlift capacity requirement recently identified in Banda Aceh, one Twin Otter has already arrived and 2 more helicopters are due to arrive later this week.
- UNJLC at Banda Aceh have adopted an automated, more user friendly passenger booking system.
- There was one MEDEVAC flight over the weekend 19/20 Mar.
- The almost free service most generously donated by Garuda for the movement of humanitarian air cargo between Jakarta and Banda Aceh continues to deliver small consignments. This service is due to end on 31 March but we are looking to provide continuity of this facility.
- The so called "pouch" service to carry small, valuable documents between Jakarta and Banda Aceh made a trial run Northbound on 9 Mar 05 but, due to lack of demand, did not make the return journey until 21 Mar.
- The flight schedules from Banda Aceh to the West coast will remain in place until 31 March 2005 when they will be reviewed to ensure they continue to meet customer requirements.
- Information regarding private air transportation in Medan (is available at http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/30492 (in the on-line Information Sheets). UNJLC includes this information to assist the humanitarian community, BUT, inclusion on this list should not imply endorsement of the provider.
AIRFIELDS
Medan
- An additional Twin Otter, has arrived and (subject to confirmation of demand) will begin serving Lhokseumawe and Simeulue and Nias Islands.
- The provisional schedule for these flights is due to be published shortly and is subject to fine tuning to ensure the correct fit with user requirements.
Banda Aceh
- The Users Group for all modes of transport ex Banda Aceh maintains its active role. Although efforts to obtain user forecasts of requirements have only been partially successful, the procurement of additional airlift capacity and the introduction of flights to the 3 new destinations mentioned above are in response to the User Group request.
- To date UNHAS have flown 4452 passengers and 544 tonnes of cargo.
- No show passengers on UNHAS flights are still at an unacceptably high level of 30%. While some of this is no fault of the individual, it is still far too high. The automated passenger booking system mentioned above will automatically place no-shows at the bottom of the list for the next flight.
SRI LANKA AIR OPERATION
AIRPORT STATUS
All relief cargo, approximately 250 tons has been moved to a warehouse at BIA Terminal 3 while the warehouse for relief cargo is under construction. Some of the commodities have been cleared by customs but not collected. These include communication equipment and vehicles belonging to UNICEF and World Vision. Most of the relief cargo now arrives with commercial flights and is dispatched directly to the Sri Lankan cargo warehouse which currently has 50 tons of relief cargo in store most of which is building material for transitional accommodations. Since current rules governing the clearance of relief commodity apply until 26 of April the rate of incoming flights has been on the rise. IOM, which has managed the registration of relief cargo at the airport, will withdraw by the end of the week. Handling of cargo is now dealt with by AASL.
AIR OPERATIONS
- Whilst the UNHAS Bell helicopter remains grounded, UNHAS has requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an operational permit for the helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft. No official response has been received as of yet.
- The Italian Civil Protection team, which has offered a limited aircraft service to UN agencies and NGOs, will leave the country by the end of March.
- Local airlines are, reportedly, offering efficient services to most destinations including the district of Jaffna. Regular flights are operated between Katunayake Airport and Trincomalee.
15th MARCH, 2005
INDONESIA AIR OPERATION
- In order to meet the additional air cargo requirement recently identified in Banda Aceh, it has been agreed that more airlift capacity is required. All UNHAS aircraft are currently being used at maximum capacity. The air user group has expressed their strong support for the UNJLC/UNHAS proposal to increase the available assets. It has been recommended that the current assets remain for another 3 months (3 x Pumas, 2 x M-i8 and 1 x Twin Otter), and that an additional Twin Otter and 2 additional M-i8s be brought onto contract a.s.a.p.
- The flight schedules from Banda Aceh to the West coast will remain in place until 31 March 2005 when they will be reviewed to ensure they continue to meet user requirements. (See http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/31729).
- 'No show' figures are still very high (30%) on UNHAS flights. The names of 'no shows' will be passed onto the air user group on a daily basis. The new booking system will automatically place any 'no shows' at the bottom of the priority list on their next flight.
- The UNHAS air services to the west coast of Aceh and the islands of Simeulue and Nias continues to be essential as other modes of transport do not cover the requirement, and the demand for movement of passengers and cargo remains high. The possibility of adding a scheduled UNHAS service to Lhokseumawe is currently being investigated. UNJLC will advise on the outcome shortly.
- Air cargo activity in Medan has now reduced to almost zero.
- The Garuda Airlines donation of free humanitarian air cargo on the route between Jakarta and Banda Aceh has delivered 4 consignments; 2 consignments are in the pipeline. (See the website: http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/3207.)
- The 'pouch' service to carry small, valuable documents between Jakarta and Banda Aceh made a trial run Northbound on 9 March but there has not yet been a return journey due to absence of demand. The User Group in Banda Aceh will formalize procedures and socialize the 'pouch' service at the next User Group Meeting.
- As March 14, Air Serv helicopters and planes will be based at Banda Aceh, not Pulau Weh (Sabang).
- A number of agencies have still not completed their monthly projection sheets. UNJLC air cell and UNHAS have reiterated the importance of these projections for future aviation capacity planning.
- Medevac and security aircraft may only be used for missions outside Banda Aceh with explicit permission from the Humanitarian Coordinator.
- For complete details of the Air Operations in support of the humanitarian community please refer to the UNJLC website, air ops section, http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/28253
SRI LANKA AIR OPERATION
While the UNHAS Bell helicopter remains grounded and availability of flights with the Italian Civil Protection team are limited I/NGOs are currently utilizing the services of domestic airlines such as Air Taxi, Lion Air and Air Lanka. Air Lanka operates fixed morning flights from Colombo to Trincomalee every Friday and Sunday which return in the afternoon.
AIRPORT STATUS
- The John Keells team responsible for managing the airport warehouse for humanitarian commodities handed over its responsibilities to the Airport Authority Sri Lanka (AASL) yesterday (14 March). IOM staff will continue to assist with registration of cargo for ten additional days.
- Roughly 15 tons of relief cargo remains to be cleared from the warehouse at the moment in addition to 24 vehicles. Since construction of the warehouse is ongoing all humanitarian relief cargo will be directed to a smaller warehouse at Terminal 3. The construction is scheduled to be completed in three months.
09th MARCH, 2005
INDONESIA AIR OPERATIONS
- Air and general Information on Nias Island (off the west coast of Sumatra) is available at http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/32035.
- Due to the large number of no-shows for UNHAS flights, penalties have now been imposed for those who book flights but do not show up. No-shows will be placed at the bottom of the priority list for future flights.
- Subang Joint Operations has been approached on 7th March for a MAF C-130 operation - Subang/Medan/Banda Aceh/Subang. Cargo for this has been identified.
- Full details of UNHAS flights and UNJLC booking procedures, schedules and prioritization are available at the UNJLC website.
- UNHAS pax and cargo movement requests should now be channelled through Heads of Agencies in Banda Aceh, so that the system is centralised and agencies have more visibility over staff movement. Organisations without an office in Banda Aceh have been requested to approach OCHA directly in order to place their requests.
- In order to fly on UNHAS flights NGOs must be accredited with OCHA. All international pax must be registered with the Indonesian police and be carrying a police-issued ID card.
- The humanitarian aid community has been warned that if they do not complete monthly projection sheets for movement of pax and cargo, UNHAS air assets may be reduced. The form is available on http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/29256, and queries should be directed to Harm Koens: 0812 1055 373 or michael.whiting@wfp.org.
- Oxfam (in Banda Aceh) have renewed their contract for one Heavy Lift Helicopter for one month. Other NGOs may use the service on a cost-share basis.
- For more information on air operations see http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/28253
SRI LANKA AIR OPERATIONS
- The rate at which relief commodities at the Bandaranaike International Airport are cleared has accelerated considerably during the past week. Currently, approximately 460 tons of cargo is stored in the airport warehouse for humanitarian relief goods in contrast to 2800 tons at the beginning of last week.
- Relief commodity containers are moving at a slow pace out of the Colombo Port. According to the Customs Director there are currently 250 containers at the port limiting the space for customs inspectors to examine the shipments. The lack of space has prompted the customs authorities at the port to look for a new examination location and an additional warehouse.
03th MARCH, 2005
INDONESIA AIR OPERATIONS
General
- Owing to the greatly reduced availability of military aircraft to carry humanitarian cargo, UNJLC has negotiated an 'almost free of charge' service generously donated by Garuda for the movement of air cargo between Jakarta and Banda Aceh; and Jakarta and Medan. Procedures for booking through UNJLC can be found at http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/30954
- Arrangements are being made for a "pouch" service to carry small, valuable documents between Jakarta and Banda Aceh.
- Helicopter operations at Banda Aceh continue at levels reported over the last 2 weeks.
- The Twin Otter made its first 3 flights. The second Twin Otter, reported last week as expected to arrive this week, will not now be coming.
Airfields
Medan
- Air coord. meetings continue on an as required basis. Three Twin Otter flights serving Meulaboh and Banda Aceh have taken place from Medan and the Twin otter has moved to operate flights from Banda Aceh.
- UNJLC have arranged for the movement of 6 pallets of cargo from Medan to Banda Aceh on a Malaysian C130.
Banda Aceh
- A more challenging issue is the need to identify future requirements of the users; as yet no forecasts have been received. Without such predictions, it is impossible to ensure that the number of aircraft in place is appropriate. OCHA will reiterate to the humanitarian aid community the importance of completing these documents.
Other Airfields in Disaster Area
- The GOI & TNI continue to be engaged in the effort to identify suitable short fixed landing strips between Banda Aceh and Meulaboh (Lamno, Calang and Teunom).
Aircraft
- See Air Operations http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/31708
Movement of Passengers and Cargo
- Efforts to rationalize passenger and cargo procedures published on this website continue. The idea is that there will be only two forms for use worldwide: one for passengers and one for cargo. Each form must be read in conjunction with a separate information page applicable to the specific location.
- The first movement of cargo under the facility offered by Garuda for the movement of general air cargo between Jakarta -Banda Aceh - Medan has begun on a trial basis.
Other Service Providers
- World Vision have 2 x Hueys, operated by Air Serv, that can be used for free. Book in advance with Guillaume 0815 9802 860.
- Oxfam is currently investigating cost-sharing with other NGOs for the two helos that they may wish to re-contract.
- Airserv offers flight services on the following routes. Monday, Wednesday, Friday. BA ' Singapore (Selatan); Mel ' Medan; Lhokseumawe, BA, Sabang. See the complete schedule at http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/31627.
SRI LANKA AIR OPERATIONS
- The UNHAS Bell 216 helicopter chartered from the domestic Deccan Aviation remains grounded by the Ministry of Defence. The explanation given by the Ministry is that the UN logo and colors had been placed on the helicopter, which was in breach of protocol since the license to operate it was issued to Deccan Aviation. In order to get the helicopter operational again, according to the Ministry, the UN must apply for permission to the Foreign Ministry, which would then have to request a sanction from the Ministry of Defence. However, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) states that the UN had fulfilled licensing requirements and that it had approved the placing of the UN logo and colors on the helicopter. UNHAS, in collaboration with other UN agencies, is in dialogue with the authorities in order to resolve the issue.
- The aircraft service offered by the Italian Civil Protection team in the country will be available for further two weeks (until mid-March). The possibility of extending this service is being looked into.