# Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport

Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport (IATA: MLG, ICAO: WARA; formerly WIAS) is a small class 1 commercial airport serving Malang, the second largest city in East Java province of Indonesia. This airport is named after Abdoel Rachman Saleh (1909–1947), an Indonesian aviator and physiologist whose aircraft was shot down by the Dutch while landing in Maguwo Airfield (now Adisucipto Airport), Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, during the Indonesian National Revolution.
The airport was temporarily closed in October 2009 due to significant damage found in the runway, but has opened again after some repairs were done as the result of Rp 130 million funding by three local authorities.
The new terminal was opened on 30 December 2011, replacing the old terminal that is now used by the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU). The new terminal is located near the south-west end of the runway, adjacent to the old terminal.
In 2007, the dimensions of the main runway (17/35) were 1,987 by 40 metres (6,519 by 131 feet). In late 2012, it was extended to 2,300 metres (7,546 feet). As of October 2022, 17/35 is reported as further extended to 2,500 by 40 metres (8,202 by 131 feet). Its second runway (17L/35R) is 1,500 by 30 metres (4,921 by 98 feet). It has an aircraft parking area of 22,000 square metres (236,806 square feet), measuring 200 by 110 metres (656 by 361 feet).

## History

Air base (Lanud) Bugis which is now known as Lanud Abdulrachman Saleh was built by the Dutch government in the 1937–1940 era along with the construction of other air bases such as Lanud Maospati (now Iswahyudi Air Base) in Madiun, Lanud Panasan (Adisumarmo International Airport) in Solo, and Lanud Maguwo (Adisutjipto International Airport) in Jogjakarta. Abdulrachman Saleh Airfield is located in the Bromo valley and is surrounded by several mountains, namely Mount Semeru (3,676m) to the east, Mount Arjuno (3,339m) to the north, and Mount Kawi (2,551m) and Mount Panderman (2,045m) to the west. Abdulrachman Saleh Air Base is located in Pakis sub-district Malang Regency, or 17 kilometers east of the center of Malang City, in the astronomical position of 07.55 LS and 112.42 BT.
The position of Abdulrahman Saleh Air Base is quite safe because it is surrounded by natural fortifications and is at the foot of the mountain. This causes Abdul Rachman Saleh Air Base not to appear so clearly in the air so that if there are enemy aircraft passing through the air above this Air Base will be covered by fog. This is a very strategic position for military defense which is also the reason the Dutch chose Pakis, Malang, Malang Regency, to become one of its air defense areas. The Dutch government at that time deliberately made the runway long enough, so that it could be used for landing and taking off wide-type aircraft such as bomber, Glynmartin, Fokker, and Jagers.
On 17 August 1952, for the sacrifices and services of Prof. Dr. Abdulrachman Saleh in his efforts to develop the AURI and fight for the Indonesian nation, the then Air Force Chief of Staff, Air Commodore Soerjadi Soerjadarma, issued a letter of Determination of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Number 76/48/Pon.2/KS/52 containing changes in the names of type A Air Bases, one of which was the change of Bugis Air Base to Abdulrachman Saleh Air Base.
After six years since 25 May 2005, using the terminal within the "base ops" of Abdul Rachman Saleh Air Base, on 30 December 2011, civil aviation at Abdul Rachman Saleh used an airport separate from the "base ops" of Abdulrahman Saleh Air Base. This airport was built at a cost of Rp 139 billion. As is known, civilian flights at this airport began on 1 April 1994, by Merpati Nusantara Airlines using Fokker F28 aircraft. Due to frequent delays (not on schedule) starting in the period 1996–1997, the load factor decreased to 14.54%. On 16 June 1997, PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines officially stopped its flight activities.

## Base Name Change

Coinciding with the commemoration of the 7th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, Air Force Chief of Staff Commodore Soerjadi Soerjadarma issued Decree Number: 76/48/Pen.2/KS/52 on 17 August 1952. This decree included changes to the names of the largest military airfields as a mark of appreciation and respect for the sacrifices and services of Air Force pioneers in upholding the independence of Indonesia in general and the Indonesian Air Force (AURI) in particular. The figures honored are:
* Air Commodore (Posthumous) Agustinus Adisutjipto, replacing the name of Maguwo Air Base (Adisutjipto International Airport) in Yogyakarta.
* Air Commodore (Posthumous) Prof. Dr. Abdulrachman Saleh, replacing the name of Bugis Air Base in Malang.
* Air Commodore (Posthumous) Halim Perdanakusuma, replacing the name of Tjilitan Air Base (Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport) in Jakarta.
* Air Officer I (Posthumous) Husein Sastranegara [id], replacing the name of Andir Air Base (Husein Sastranegara International Airport) in Bandung.

## Airlines and destinations

The following airlines offer scheduled passenger service:
| Airlines | Destinations |
| Batik Air | Jakarta–Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta |
| Citilink | Jakarta–Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta |
| Garuda Indonesia | Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta |

## Statistics

Frequency of flights at Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport :
| Rank | Destinations | Frequency (weekly) | Airline(s) |
| 1 | Jakarta–Soekarno–Hatta, Jakarta | 56 | Citilink, Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air |
| 2 | Jakarta–Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta | 40 | Batik Air, Citilink |
| 3 | Denpasar, Bali | 8 | Wings Air |

## Accidents and incidents

* On 18 January 1967, a Grumman HU-16A Albatross operated by the Air Force of the Republic of Indonesia (AURI), military registration 302, en route to Malang-Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport (MLG/WARA), was reported as missing with the loss of all 19 occupants onboard.
* On 1 November 2007, at 13:24 Western Indonesia Time (WIB) (06:24 UTC), a Boeing 737–230 operated by Mandala Airlines as flight number RI260 (also reported as MDL 260) (serial number: 22137/788), registration PK-RIL, was written off following substantial damage resulting from a severe heavy landing on runway 35 at Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport. Originating from Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK/WIII) on a scheduled passenger service, the subsequent investigation found that the pilot failed to observe the excessive 1,000 feet per minute rate of descent during the approach for landing, thus creating an unstabilised approach. The 45-year-old male pilot in command was criticised for further failing to respond to any of the audible warnings from any of ground proximity warning systems (GPWS), particularly the initial "Sink Rate, Sink Rate" and the three subsequent "Pull Up, Pull Up" aural warnings. Data recovered from the flight data recorder revealed that after a rate of descent of 1,750 feet per minute, the aircraft bounced around 20 feet (6 metres) following the severe heavy landing, and that there was no attempt by the crew to initiate a go around, which is the normal recovery action following a heavy landing. In mitigation, the flight crew were hampered with "marginal visual meteorological conditions" during their approach, specifically heavy rain and reduced visibility. Of the 94 total persons onboard (two pilots, three cabin crew, and 89 passengers), there were no fatalities and no serious injuries.
* On 16 November 2023, the two Indonesian Air Force Embraer EMB-314E Super Tucano (A-29) aircraft, operated by Skadron Udara 21, crashed under unknown circumstances on the slopes of Mount Bromo, near Keduwung Village, Puspo District, Pasuruan, East Java. The aircraft (TT-3103 and TT-3111) were part of a four-ship formation that had departed Malang-Abdul Rachman Saleh Air Base. At the time of the accident they were flying in a box formation. The pilots of both planes died in the crash.