Perak to ensure airport runway extension follows construction guidelines
KUALA LUMPUR: Perak will ensure that extension work involving the runway at the Sultan Azlan Shah (LTSAS) Airport in Ipoh, Perak, adheres to construction procedures.
This is to prevent problems, which had plagued the airport following its upgrade and expansion, said Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
He said in extending the runaway, priority would be given to ensure that the ground could deal with the new construction.
“The airport was plagued with portholes. We need to conduct a study on it.
“The state has many limestone (caves) that are dotted with cavities.
“As such, we have to be sure that aircraft landing on the runway are safe.”
In 2013, LTSAS stopped operations for larger aircraft after sinkholes were detected at the side of its runway.
The airport was subsequently restricted to turboprop planes.
After rectification work were concluded, the runway was declared safe and was used daily without any disruption.
The sinkholes were reported just months after the airport underwent a RM42 million renovation to accommodate bigger aircraft.
The renovation included the upgrading of the airport’s terminal and the extension of the runway by 200m to 2,000m to accommodate larger aircraft, such as Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.
Faizal said the move to extend the runaway further under the latest expansion project would enable larger planes with a full load to use it.
“The previous plan was to extend the runway, making it a 2.5km stretch to accommodate larger-sized aircraft.
“We now have a 2km stretch, which is good for Boeing 737s.
“If the requirement is for 2.5km, it would be sufficient (to extend the runway). We would not need to acquire land or houses from the surrounding areas. We have sufficient land at both ends of the runway.”
He said the upgrading would involve an expansion of the terminal building.
“During a recent visit to the terminal building, I witnessed passengers from a just-arrived Singapore flight queuing-up and waiting to clear Immigration.
“The queue was long, stretching out of the terminal building on the tarmac. They had to brave the elements, such as hot sun and rain. This is not good for the country.”
The federal government in tabling the 2020 Budget had allocated RM150 million for upgrading the airport.
“I am grateful to the federal government for the allocation.”
LTSAS is the seventh busiest airport in the country.
He added that Perak was looking at and working to expand air connectivity between Ipoh and southern India and southern China.
“The inaugural flight from Guangzhou, China, will begin this month. It will be a charter flight for three months.
“The company managing the flight is trying out this new route,” he said, adding that the flights from the Chinese city would be continued based on the flight’s reception.
He said the charter flight from Guangzhou will stop over in Ipoh before proceeding to its final destination, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
He said the state was keen on establishing connections with Chennai in Tamil Nadu.