Sarawak acquires aircraft to monitor illegal logging By Peter Sibon
KUCHING: Sarawak will be the first state in the country to have its own fixed-wing plane to provide air surveillance and to monitor illegal logging, revealed Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
He said the plane costing RM35 million will be delivered to the state government soon after final details on the maintenance and fine-tuning of the plane to suit the needs of the state have been agreed on with its manufacturer.
“The plane is so sophisticated that it can identify the species of trees below it. And it will be able to fly without refuelling for nine hours. This plane will be ideal for Sarawak with its vast geographical land mass,” Wan Junaidi told The Borneo Post yesterday.
The four-seater model DA42MNG Diamond special mission aircraft will be configured for aerial surveillance and for mapping purposes. It will be able to take two technicians and two pilots in each mission.
According to Google, the Diamond DA42-NG is a four seat, twin engine propellerdriven airplane developed and manufactured by Australian company Diamond Aircraft Industries. It is Diamond’s first twin engine design, as well as the first new European twinengine aircraft in its category to be developed in over 25 years. In 2004, the DA42 became the first diesel-powered fixed-wing aircraft to perform a non-stop crossing of the North Atlantic.
Wan Junaidi stressed that the acquisition of the plane was necessary to curb illegal logging as the perpetrators were getting more sophisticated and daring.
“It is part of our New Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) to curb illegal logging. Besides the gadgets, we are also deploying the army and the police to assist the Forest Department to combat and curb illegal logging activities in Sarawak,” he said.
The Santubong MP pointed out that the all-out war against illegal logging, which was initiated by former Chief Minister the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, had been successful and hoped that the state would be able to achieve its target of zero illegal logging by 2020.
Meanwhile, state Forest Department deputy director Jack Liam revealed that the plane is expected to be deployed by middle of next year.
“The plane is bought using the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s allocation. Once it is delivered to the state, it will be parked under the state Forest Department and will be managed and maintained by Hornbill Skyways,” he said.