WEBLOG: Air Operations

Content

This weblog is a chronological list of entries pertaining to AIR OPERATIONS that have appeared in the AIR & LOGISTICS COORDINATION BULLETIN, a daily information service published by UNJLC covering air operations and other logistics in the crisis region affected by the INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI of December 26, 2004.

For the full archive of Bulletins go here.

11th MAY, 2005

AIR

• List of available assets: 
• MEDAN based:  one TWIN OTTER
• Subang based but flying from BA : one Bell 212,  one Puma,  one Twin Otter, two MTV, one MI8
• For schedules and procedures please see:
• Schedule: http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/31729
• Procedure BANDA ACEH: http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/31787
• The UNHAS airport offices are to be moved to the fixed-wing terminal of the military airport.  The plans have been developed in liaison with, and approved by, the Base Commander.   Assistance of ICT and WFP Facilities has been requested.   An electronic map of the new location will be distributed to the HIC, posted on the internet and sent out to all major agencies and NGO offices.
• Relocation of UN air ops at Lanud Military Airport to passenger terminal area is expected to be completed by Sat 14 May - be advised: intermittent communications failures are expected.
• On May 6 2005, at Lanud Iskandar Muda Airport BANDA ACEH, a Malaysian S61 (under contract to IFRC) was positioned at the civil side of the airport. Whilst undertaking a low speed hover taxi both engines partially lost power and it landed short of the runway on the grass. The tail wheel caught on a monsoon ditch causing the helicopter to lurch to the left collapsing the left hand main undercarriage. No casualties reported.  UNJLC provided the crew with support: safety officer, TNI Liaison, crane and transportation.
• The NIAS MTV has returned to BANDA ACEH. NIAS has no remaining UNHAS air capacity for inland transportation or medevac. Air Serv flying for IMC has a Bell 407 on NIAS and FRC is planning to bring in a Sykorsky 76 (TBD).
• 2 of the DFID helicopters (Puma) based in BANDA ACEH (Sabang) have returned to their home base post contract completion. A Bell 212 is now in place. The UT MI8 has arrived in MEDAN, will be assembled and is expected to be operative by 12 May.
• The impact of the change in helicopters will be closely monitored.
• UNHAS air assets available in MEDAN:
• One Twin Otter (capacity 14 pax) for passengers is now operating between MEDAN and NIAS.
• UNHAS  Aircraft Report from May1-6 2005 on the Flight of DH 6 TWIN OTTER

• As of Saturday 14 May, the Twin otter (capacity of 900kg or 12 seats) will fly 5 times weekly Tues, Thurs and Sat the MEDAN - Meulaboh- NIAS route; and Mon and Fri from MEDAN - BANDA ACEH -Meulaboh - MEDAN.

21th APRIL, 2005

INDONESIA

AIR

• UNJLC and UNHAS are pleased with the excellent cooperation between Air Serv, IFRC, OXFAM, Save the Children and themselves which has resulted in optimum use of aircraft seats and payload.
• On 12 April, IFRC provided a C-160 Transal offering 20 seats to UNHAS in NIAS to move a backlog of passengers.  
• Save the Children Fund similarly offered seats to SIMEULUE -BANDA ACEH flights.
• Current UNHAS air assets:
  3 x Puma (based in Banda Aceh)
  4 x Mi-8 (2 based in Nias, 2 based in Banda Aceh)
  2 x Twin Otter (one in Medan, one in Banda Aceh) a third, to be based at Medan to serve Nias expected soon.
  1 x Fokker 27 (short-term charter for cargo ex. Medan - Nias /Banda Aceh) - 8 more Medan - Nias rotations available.
• The USS Mercy Ship has collected HLZ (Helicopter Landing Zones) from all pilots and surveyed all sites for future use by larger helicopters.
• Airserv (USAID/OFDA-funded) currently operate BANDA ACEH-NIAS. However, UN Staff are not permitted to travel with Air Serv.
• An AirServ helicopter began operations in Nias on April 11. 
• This helicopter will be primarily used to aid with small medical missions operating in remote areas of the island. 
• If needed, the helicopter can also be used for similar purposes in Simeulue.  Details are being worked out with UNJLC.
• UNHAS has established regular flights to NIAS 3 times per week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday).
• As of April 13, UNJLC handed over air-ops responsibilities in SIBOLGA (SUMATRA) and BINAKA (GUNUNG SITOLI - NIAS) to UNHAS: For the latest UNHAS air schedules, booking procedures, landing sites etc see www.unjlc.org.
• A new map of the UNHAS flight network can be found at www.unjlc.org
• SIBOLGA AIRPORT:
• The airfield is also used by TNI with C-130/Puma's/Bell212-412/Casa/F27.
• The airfield is frequently used by Oxfam Mi-8 (Hevilift), IFRC (C-160/Casa) and Surfaid (Twinstar AS355).
• The leased IFRC super Puma is operating daily from SIBOLGA.
• FUEL:   As of daily close of air ops on 19 April, 5000L of Jet A1 in drums were on hand at BINAKA Airport GUNUNG SITOLI, NIAS. 
• Hence, a top-up capacity for UNHAS air ops is available. 
• Negotiations are underway with Pertamina to supply further requirements.
• Jet A1 fuel in bowsers (rather than barrels) is urgently required at the airport in G. Sitoli.
• The fuel farm in Meulaboh is fully operational.  It has a capacity of 90,000L Jet A1 and can service helicopters and small fixed wing a/c.  The farm is being operated by Pertamina under standard commercial terms.

SRI LANKA

AIRPORT STATUS

• Roughly 18,000 tons of relief commodities have been channelled through the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) from the beginning of the tsunami relief operation.
• A considerable amount of telecommunications equipment still remains to be collected from the airport warehouse for humanitarian relief goods. In addition there are 10 Toyota pick-up trucks consigned to UNICEF as well as two lorries yet to be collected according to the Sri Lanka Airport Authority.

AIR OPERATIONS

The one remaining aircraft of the Italian Civil Protection Team departed Sri Lanka on 16 April, one month ahead of schedule. Hence, until further notice there is no air service available for the humanitarian community in the country. The matter will be raised at the next meeting of heads of agencies.

13th, APRIL, 2005

INDONESIA AIR OPERATION

• Current UNHAS air assets:
  3 x Puma (based in Banda Aceh)
  4 x Mi-8 (2 based in Nias, 2 based in Banda Aceh)
  2 x Twin Otter (one in Medan, one in Banda Aceh)
  1 x Fokker 27 (short-term charter for cargo ex. Medan - Nias /Banda Aceh)
• An extra UNHAS Twin Otter is under discussion for flights between Nias and Medan. No ETA given. 
• UNHAS is planning to provide 2x Twin Otters for West Coast and out-island operations.
• When JetA1 fuel is available on Nias, UNHAS plans to position 1 x Bell 212 Light Helicopter and 1 x Heavy lift (4 MT) helicopter in Nias airport.
• UNJLC Medan has requested routine UNHAS air service be established to Nias and affected area, including out-islands.
• The Fokker 27 is stationed at Medan, and carrying cargo to affected Nias area for a short period (1 week) to overcome the surge of humanitarian goods.  A fuel expert would useful in Nias to make a quick assessment and recommendations.
• POSKO and port staffs have advised JLC that they have enough time-sensitive cargo to keep the Fokker busy for a further 5 days.
• Fokker contract has been extended.
• The fuel farm in Meulaboh fully operational.  It has a capacity of 90,000L Jet A1 and can service helicopters and small fixed wing a/c.  As at April 10, it had 31,120L fuel
  in stock.  Establishment of routine UNHAS pax air-service to Sibolga and G. Sitoli is requested.
• The USS Mercy Ship has collected HLZ (Helicopter Landing Zones) from all pilots and surveyed all sites for future use by larger helicopters.
• This information will be shared with all humanitarian actors in due course.
• USAID/OFDA-funded AirServ began air services from Banda Aceh to Nias this week beginning April 5.
• The King Air plane flies twice a day six days a week. 
• An AirServ helicopter began operations in Nias on April 11. 
• This helicopter will be primarily used to aid with small medical missions operating in remote areas of the island. 
• If needed, the helicopter can also be used for similar purposes in Simeulue.  Details are being worked out with UNJLC.
• Helicopter assets are urgently required in G. Sitoli to conduct assessments and transport pax and cargo to isolated areas. 
• NB: IFRC is reportedly stationing a heavy lift helicopter capable of sling loads at the Sitoli airport.  Sling loading will permit delivery in more remote areas.
• Jet A1 fuel, in bowsers rather than barrels is urgently required at the airport in G. Sitoli.
• UNHAS/UNJLC reports air/medivac of more than 280 casualties to April 12: this includes those evacuated from remote areas to Gunung Sitoli as well as those evacuated from Nias, Simueleu and surrounds to mainland Sumatra. The number requiring Medevac is reducing with each passing day.
• For more detailed information on air operations go to http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/28253 for the latest Air Operations Update.

SRI LANKA AIR OPERATION

AIRPORT STATUS

• There is ample storage space available at the warehouse for relief commodities at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at the moment. No storage shortage is expected in the foreseeable future.
• A considerable amount of telecommunications equipment still remains to be collected from the airport warehouse. The Sri Lanka Airport Authority intends to contact the respective consignees in an attempt to swiftly clear the equipment out of the warehouse.

6th, APRIL, 2005

INDONESIA AIR OPERATION

• Overall control of humanitarian operations for Nias is from Medan because Nias lies within the Governor of North Sumatra's area of responsibility.  Banda Aceh continues to exercise control of operations in Aceh Province which includes Simeulue. 
• Previous UNHAS ( UNJLC booked) scheduled services have been disrupted and it may be necessary to procure additional airlift capacity in order to cope with the new demand and restore previous levels of service (see the Air Operations Section below and the Air Ops Bulletin at http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/28253.
• However, it is important that users continue to use the published procedures for passengers and cargo. 
• Those who attempt "shortcuts" are likely to find that they will move rather less quickly.
• The earthquake of 28 Mar has created new demands on the humanitarian air community. Initially, lack of fuel at Meulaboh limited the ability of our aircraft to reach the new disaster area with full payloads. 
• This hurdle has now been overcome and the focal point for delivery of airlifted passengers and cargo has moved to Nias Island. 
• UNJLC/UNHAS have established a presence at Sibolga airport which serves as a forward operating base and for the time being is the nearest source of fuel.
• Simeulue Island, which is not thought to be so badly affected, is also receiving daily flights. 
• The UN fleet currently lacks fixed wing cargo aircraft other than the Twin Otters whose capacity is limited.
• Although operations have continued, periods of rainy weather have hampered all activities particularly on the ground. 
• More detailed information regarding aircraft available to the UN and air activity at the airports of Medan, Banda Aceh, Meulaboh, Sibolga, Nias, and Simeulue can be found in the Air Operations Section at http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/28253.
• UNJLC are pleased that Garuda Indonesia has agreed to extend their almost-free service from 1 April until 30 June 2005 subject to an upper limit of 5 tons per month. (http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/32074).
• In response to the earthquake of 28 March, the Medan based Twin Otter was assigned to facilitate the operation in Nias while the Banda Aceh based Twin Otter in Simeulue. Priority was given to medical staff and essential items such as medical/telecommunications equipments. To date, UNHAS has transported some 300 serious injured from Nias island. 
• UNJLC Air Ops and UNHAS report the following statistics ex. Medan:
• Total number of passenger carried by UNHAS/UNJLC flight up to 02 April 2005 5,598pax.  No show pax 11%, an indicator of improved agency adherence to procedures AND the increased demand on services following the earthquake of 28 March.
• Total number of cargo carried by UNHAS/UNJLC flights up to 02 April 2005, 691,839 kgs.
• Total number of flights by UNHAS/UNJLC flight up to 02 April 2005 1,228 times.

SRI LANKA AIR OPERATION

AIRPORT STATUS

• The Sri Lanka Airport Authority (SLAA9 has informed UNJLC that as of today (5 April) it will extinguish all expired food items in store at the warehouse for humanitarian relief cargo. The bulk of these food items, approximately 3 tons, were imported by private donors but weren't cleared by customs.
• Currently 40 tons of relief cargo are stored in the Sri Lanka cargo warehouse and 15 additional tons in the warehouse for relief cargo, some of which have not been collected for up to two months. Of those stored in the warehouse for relief goods 12 shipments belong to I/NGOs and three to the Government. The SLAA has informed UNJLC that it will hand over all cargo, which is not collected by the end of the week to the Department of Social Services. 

AIR OPERATIONS

UNHAS will remain the focal point for allotting seats to UN and I/NGO staff on the aircraft of the Italian Civil Protection Team until 15 May. The aircraft can carry six passengers and seats are provided on space availability basis. There is no fixed flight schedule. UNHAS is still awaiting a confirmation from SL MOFA on the current procedures for authorizing UN/NGO passengers to fly with the Italian aircraft.

MARCH WEBLOGS AIR OPERATIONS

FEBRUARY WEBLOGS AIR OPERATIONS

JANUARY WEBLOGS AIR OPERATIONS

RELATED TOPICS

• Indian Ocean Air Operations

RELATED WEBLOGS
See also UNJLC's other Indian Ocean Crisis weblogs:

• WEBLOG - General Notices
• WEBLOG - Indonesia
• WEBLOG - Sri Lanka
• WEBLOG - Maldives

 ABOUT UNJLC

• UNJLC is an inter-agency facility whose mandate is to coordinate and optimize the logistics capabilities of humanitarian organizations in large-scale emergencies.
• UNJLC operates under the custodianship of WFP who is responsible for the administrative and financial management of the Centre.
• UNJLC is funded from voluntary contributions channeled through WFP.
• www.unjlc.org