MASwings underlines challenges in Borneo turboprop flying

Malaysia turboprop operator MASwings faces daunting operational challenges in its mission to support remote communities in Borneo. Tiny and remote airports located in the mountainous interior of Malaysian Borneo present particular issues, according to Muhammad Bari, the carrier’s director of flight operations. Remote airports can suffer from short runways and a lack of communications to challenging fauna. The airport of Mulu, for example, is one among many difficult destinations MASwings services. The airport is located near the Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its caves – and bats. Bari says that all flying to the airport ceases at 16:30 because this is when swarms of bats habitually emerge from the region’s cave system. “Once he sees one or two bats flying out of the caves, the pilot will immediately taxi back to the apron,” says Bari. Bari discussed made the remarks in a presentation at the recent IATA World Safety & Operations Conference in Hanoi. Cirium fleets data indicates that MASwings, a unit of Malaysia Airlines owner Malaysia Aviation Group, operates eight ATR 72-500s and six Viking Air DHC-6-400 Twin Otters. Long Banga Airport, which MASwings serves with the DHC-6-400, is particularly challenging. The runway, nestled in a narrow valley, is very short at just 600m (1,969ft). The airport has no navigation aids and only a small tower operated by ground crew. The fire services vehicle is a scooter equipped with fire extinguishers. Though the DHC-6-400 can carry a maximum of 19 passengers, it is restricted to carrying just nine in and out of Long Banga. <br/>