Lede Kalumbang Airport runs full-scale emergency drill in Tambolaka

Tambolaka — Lede Kalumbang Airport in Tambolaka, Sumba Barat Daya, carried out a full-scale emergency exercise on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, simulating an aviation security threat and an aircraft accident with multiple agencies taking part, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s Lede Kalumbang airport news page.

The exercise aimed to test how quickly and effectively the airport and its partners could respond to an emergency, including communication procedures, command arrangements, division of responsibilities, and the readiness of facilities and operational equipment, the airport said.

The airport described the drill as part of efforts to strengthen aviation safety and security preparedness at a key gateway to Sumba, noting that the scenarios were simulated and no real casualties were involved.

Preparation and coordination

According to the airport’s account, the full-scale exercise followed earlier coordination with participating stakeholders and a table-top exercise designed to test understanding of the scenarios, communications channels, command structure and individual responsibilities.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation reported that a “dirty drill” (gladi kotor) was held on Monday, 7 September, and a “clean rehearsal” (gladi bersih) on Tuesday, 8 September, to check personnel readiness, supporting facilities, operational equipment and procedures before the main exercise.

The airport said the exercise involved personnel from Lede Kalumbang Airport and AirNav Indonesia, airline operators, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and National Police (Polri), the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), local Fire and Rescue Services, the Health Office, referral hospitals and other supporting agencies.

The drill therefore tested not only the airport’s internal response systems but also how external agencies would communicate and operate within a shared emergency structure when an incident affects airport operations.

Regulatory framework and assessment

The airport stated that the exercise was conducted under Indonesia’s Law No. 1 of 2009 on Aviation and in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Annex 14, Volume I on aerodromes, which calls for large-scale emergency exercises at airports at least once every two years.

The activity also followed Lede Kalumbang’s Airport Emergency Plan and Airport Safety Programme. The airport said its Airport Emergency Plan had been approved through a second amendment dated 22 November 2022, while its Airport Safety Programme was certified on 24 November 2022.

Officials used the exercise to evaluate the airport’s emergency response system, inter-agency coordination, and the readiness of personnel and facilities, as well as the ability of participating units to respond in a timely and coordinated manner.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said the drill formed part of efforts to reinforce safety culture and support safe, secure and sustainable air transport at Lede Kalumbang Airport.

Context

The full-scale exercise at Lede Kalumbang took place after a staged preparation process that included a table-top exercise and field rehearsals, consistent with guidance from airport oversight documents for the Maumere-based Airport Authority Office for Region IV, which emphasize regular table-top and full-scale drills to maintain emergency response readiness.

Lede Kalumbang Airport serves Sumba Barat Daya from its location on Jalan Soeharto No. 1 in Tambolaka and is part of Indonesia’s network of regional airports where full-scale emergency exercises are periodically conducted to align with national and international aerodrome safety standards.

Sources

• Direktorat Jenderal Perhubungan Udara, Kementerian Perhubungan – Bandara Lede Kalumbang Laksanakan Latihan Penanggulangan Keadaan Darurat (PKD) Full Scale Exerc
• Resume Regulasi Kampen 2024