KUALA LUMPUR, 13 Jan 2009: The Malaysian Airline System Employees Union (MASEU) today asked the government to review its plan to construct an airport in Labu, Negeri Sembilan, because of safety aspects that need to be considered.
MASEU executive secretary Mustafar Maarof said the government needed to re-evaluate the location of the new airport as it was in close proximity to the KL International Airport (KLIA) and two petrol refineries in Port Dickson.
“The location of the proposed airport is too near to KLIA and a Shell and an ExxonMobil refinery,” he said in a statement here today.
He said large aircraft like the B747 and B777 may have to be more careful when landing in KLIA due to the close proximity of both airports.
Mustafar also said in terms of air traffic monitoring, the government needed to consider that if the airport in Labu had its own air traffic control tower, it would create problems and confusion to air traffic control officers.
“Airports that are located close by, but have different management will cause much confusion. The main responsibility of air traffic controllers is to prevent collisions and danger to the public,” he added.
In relation to this, Mustafar said MAS had booked six Airbus 380 and the first is scheduled to arrive in KLIA in early 2011.
“This aircraft requires a wide airspace for take-off and landing,” he said. — Bernama
