Is klia2 Safe?

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed wants Malaysian Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to take full responsibility for the soil issues at the newly-opened Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2). He described KLIA’s apron taxiway as being badly damaged like “damaged pumpkins” and that MAHB should bare the cost of fixing the problem.

abnxcess.com

Nur Jazlan explained that the issues which had been brought up by low-cost carrier, AirAsia had now become a reality. “When AirAsia brought up the issue with MAHB and PAC, they (MAHB) said the problem will be dealt with accordingly. So we waited. Now hardly two weeks has gone and we already have issues.”

abnxcess.com

Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB) has denied safety fears at the klia2, saying that soil issues only affect 1% of apron taxiway at the new airport. It said there is no safety risk on the apron taxiway as alleged by certain quarters.

themalaysianinsider.com

“We have stated in the past that the settlement at localised spots comprising less than 1% of the apron is anticipated due to differential settlement. We are well prepared with a clear and workable engineering solution to address this issue it said in a statement today." It said there is no impact to flight operations of any airlines as klia2 had ample aircraft parking bays to accommodate the aircraft movements.

“Malaysia Airports and AirAsia have daily operational meetings attended by the Head of Departments (HOD) led respectively by AirAsia’s CEO Aireen Omar and Malaysia Airports’ senior general manager of operations Datuk Azmi Murad. Operational and safety issues are discussed at length and explanations and solutions are provided in these meetings,” the MAHB said in its statement today.

themalaysianinsider.com

The airport operator today expressed its disappointment that despite efforts to work together, issues on klia2 continue to be raised through improper channels. ”On Malaysia Airports’ part, as agreed, issues on AirAsia’s operations and safety are raised through a proper forum in the true spirit of partnership. We would like to encourage AirAsia to do the same,” it said.

Safety fears have cropped up again in klia2 as taxiways and aircraft parking bays are slowly sinking due to torrential rain and impact from the hundreds of aircraft landings and take-offs at the new budget airport terminal.

themalaysianinsider.com

Aviation industry sources told The Malaysian Insider that there was "ponding" or water collecting in the airport apron on Sunday after heavy rain fell over the RM4 billion airport terminal in Sepang, Selangor, two weeks after opening for business.

They also said there were reports of some AirAsia Airbus 320 passenger aircraft moving on the bumpy parking bays despite having safety-chocks to block the wheels from turning. AirAsia is the airport terminal's biggest customer.

msn.com

"What happened was when brakes were released on the main wheel, the aircraft moved back due to the slope/depression. In this case, the momentum was just enough to cause it to climb and stop on the chock. The aircraft chocks that we used are as per Airbus specs.

themalaysianinsider.com

"This has been happening every day and we have asked our guys not to be anywhere behind the aircraft when we release the brakes. It's becoming very dangerous," a source told The Malaysian Insider.

malaysia-today.net

One pilot filed a report to his airline saying he experienced "five depressions" on taxiway U4 at the airport. "We have felt a very hard impact to the aircraft when taxiing at speed around 15 knots.

"Three of them are at zone wing P before the sky bridge when taxiing towards runway 33. As I remember it's abeam bay P3 & P5. The other 2 around bay Q7. Will update further if manage to taxi on U4 again," the pilot said in the report sighted by The Malaysian Insider.

malaysia-today.net

The pilot also told his airline that he had been avoiding taxiway U4 since May 11 by "requesting other taxi routing from ground if traffic permits for pax comfort".

msn.com

It is learnt that AirAsia is working with airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to resolve the matter although the airport had passed checks by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) weeks before it opened for business.

themalaysianinsider.com

The new airport terminal is some two kilometres west of the KLIA main terminal. The 10,000ha of land where the KLIA is sited was previously an oil palm and rubber estate and a swamp forest, where klia2 is located.

It is understood that MAHB workers have been busy resurfacing the tarmac at the klia2 terminal after AirAsia officials complained of the soft ground conditions, and are using densiphalt – a composite paving material of asphalt and concrete, rather than just asphalt that is normally used for such areas.

malaysia-today.net

As safety fears cropped up again on the tarmac of the new RM4 billion klia2, AirAsia, its biggest customer, today complained of other problems they are facing inside the airport terminal.

themalaysianinsider.com

AirAsia group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes took to Twitter this morning to complain about issues the budget carrier was having with the check-in machines.

themalaysianinsider.com

The clearly frustrated CEO did not stop there, but went on to tag former Umno supreme council member Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah in further tweets.

themalaysianinsider.com

KUALA Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) has fulfilled all international standards as required and is safe for operation, acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said. He said this was based on the assurance given by international expert bodies including the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the reports prepared by local consultants.

"We have never compromised safety at klia2. The reports say that klia2 is not only safe in all aspects but has also met international standards. "We look at the safety aspect in relation to the movement of passengers, a borderless world and the importance of cooperation among the agencies involved like the Customs, Fire and Rescue, and Public Works departments and the police."