Malaysia Airports: KUB COMPLETES klia2 3RD RUNWAY

The day also witnessed the trial landing of the first commercial aircraft Malindo Air Boeing 737-900ER on the third runway. The aircraft departed from KLIA airport at 9.00am and landed at Runway 3 at 9.30am.

The trial landing was conducted to test the smoothness and evenness of the runway while at the same time signifying the completeness of Runway 3 works by KUB. The trial landing also tested the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) system which has been calibrated and certified by DCA, and the approach lights at the runway. The entire works inclusive of the airport ground lighting (AGL) is expected to be completed by end of November and through this testing any possible defects can be identified and rectified immediately.

Datuk Seri Abd Halim Abd Samad, Chairman of KUB, during the Group's Trial Landing Ceremony revealed that the completion of this runway marked another milestone for the Group as this is KUB's first foray into the airport construction business. What makes it more meaningful is that the project is delivered in time for May 2, 2014 opening.

"We are very much delighted and we are pleased to say that the construction of the whole project which was awarded by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to KUB via our wholly-owned company, KUB Builders Sdn Bhd in October 2011 is delivered in line with the quality standard requirements stipulated in the design and specifications," said Abd Halim.

"Our number one priority is that the runway is safe and strong enough to accommodate any generation of aircrafts as well as the super-sized ones like the Airbus A380 and the Antonov An-225, before its commercial operation which is expected to begin in May 2014," he added.

"We hope this platform of credibility, along with our experience in this venture will help the Group to include additional revenue streams namely in the airport construction industry," said Abd Halim.

In attendance to witness the ceremony was YB Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein the Acting Minister of Transport, alongside his Deputy, YB Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi. Representative from Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad was its Chairman, Tan Sri Dato' Sri Dr. Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah. Also present were KUB Builders Chief Executive Officer, Hanim Laham, Malaysia Airports Managing Director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad and Malindo Chief Executive Officer, Chandran Rama Muthy.

Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said, "The completion of the Runway 3 is a significant milestone in the nation's aviation history as Malaysia is the first country in this region to have a third runway for its flagship airport. I would like to congratulate both KUB and Malaysia Airports for this successful trial landing. I am also pleased to learn that the overall progress of klia2 construction is well on track to meet the May 2014 opening. The klia2 Task Force will continue to monitor the progress and I am confident that the terminal will be ready as scheduled, with only 6% left towards full completion."

Runway 3 is 3,960 metres long and 60 metres wide and is capable of accommodating any aircraft currently operating at full capacity. Besides the two parallel taxiways (3.96km and 2.9km respectively), there are eight connecting taxiways (entry/exit and rapid exit) to avoid traffic bottlenecks. The runway spacing between Runway 2 and Runway 3 is 2.2 kilometres.

Wan Abdul Aziz said, "Malaysia Airports is very thankful to YB Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein for his support towards ensuring that klia2 and its related facilities will be delivered on time as promised. The formation of the klia2 Task Force headed by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi, played a significant part in facilitating the whole project to progress as scheduled. We are certainly working very closely with the Task Force to monitor the progress of all the stakeholders towards fulfilling their commitments."

This successful trial landing proved that the Runway 3's surface has been successfully completed for operation. Prior to this trial landing, the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has calibrated and tested the runway using DCA's own aircraft to ensure that it met the minimum yet stringent requirement for this trial landing. Malaysia Airports is now preparing for the operational readiness of the runway according to schedule.

Runway 3 has always been part of the National Airport Master Plan (NAMP), and due to the rapid growth of aviation traffic especially seen in Asia Pacific, the need for the third runway is imminent. In meeting the expectation of this rapid growth, KLIA becomes the first airport in this region to have a third runway to provide capacity for the growth expected. Runway 3 will ease congestion, reduce taxiing time, and serve as a backup runway in the airport network, to better serve all airlines operating at both KLIA and klia2.