Sentani, Jayapura – The Directorate General of Air Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia highlighted the condition of a number of airports and airfields in the Papua region that are still considered concerning, especially those that serve pioneering flights and small aircraft. This matter was conveyed directly by the Director of Aviation Navigation, Lukman F. Laisa, after opening the Regional Coordination Meeting of the Regional Airport Authority Office IX and X Year 2025 at the Horison Sentani Hotel, Sentani District, Jayapura Regency.
Lukman explained that Papua has a pioneering flight network that is very vital for community mobility in mountainous areas and areas that are difficult to reach by land transportation. But behind the importance of the service, many small airports still do not meet aviation safety standards.
According to him, currently 68 airports in Papua have received certification, while 153 airports have been verified. However, most of the facilities do not have a safety fence that should surround the runway (runway).
“There are many small airports in Papua that are in a worrying condition and have not been verified or certified. However, there are some airports that have been certified and verified as standard,” he said.
The absence of this security fence makes the runway often crossed by the community and livestock, so that it has the potential to disrupt flight safety. Lukman assessed that this matter should be the main concern of the local government, airport authorities, and airport managers to prevent the risk of accidents.
He also emphasized that the improvement of airport facilities is not only important for the flight safety aspect, but also the main support of logistics mobility, health services, and community movement in the interior of Papua.
The coordination meeting held is expected to produce concrete steps to improve the safety standards and quality of aviation infrastructure, so that air transportation services in Papua can run more safely, comfortably, and reliably.
With Papua’s challenging geographical conditions, the government emphasized its commitment to continue to improve aviation facilities in order to support connectivity and regional development.
