Hello! This is my most recent review from my most recent flight I've taken, which was this morning. I was really excited, since there were two important things:
1. This would be my comeback to BDO after 2 years.
2. This would be my first experience flying on SI's C208B.
My flight today costed me Rp587,850 or USD36.6. The newly launched HSR would bring me to Jakarta in 45 minutes, but as an avgeek, I don't mind to spend a bit more for this experience.
A bit sad to see this airport 'dying'. Very different volume compared to the past, where this became passengers' favorite for its strategic location - very close to city center.
Remembering the days when QG still flew from this airport. On the last days, they still flew between BDO and HLP with their ATR72.
I could still remember the crowd here before every departure. But now, it's no more than a deserted terminal.
Glad that SI help to keep this airport alive by opening flights between CJN-BDO-HLP vv every Monday & Friday. Seems that the time had been exchanged.
There were 8 check in counters here which used to be international terminal. They only functioned Counter 2 this morning.
They issued handwritten boarding pass instead of the thermal-printed one. I prefer this one, since I could keep this for longer time as memorabilia. (They would keep the left part & hand the right part to us.)
Security check was really efficient. Turned out that they don't operate the departure hall upstairs, so they asked us to board through another gate for efficiency.
Time for boarding! These two special things to open this week. Kinda miss the terminal where we usually boarded years ago.
Today's ride: Cessna C208B Grand Caravan, PK-BVR, 12-seater. Freshly landed from Pangandaran.
I was placed at the back corner of the aircraft, why? I must help locking the door and I should maintain the aircraft balance, in order to take off. I was allowed to move afterwards.
Seen at the distance: NAM Air's B737 classic & ATR72. Boarding ladders are not in use for months.
Cardigair was seen as well, along with an unknown aircraft with 2-WLAN registration number. Seems more like a WiFi network code instead of a registration number.
Take off was done smoothly. Really happy to see Bandung from above again after years.
Two modes seen from above: Cipularang toll road and Whoosh elevated railway.
I was sitting right behind the Captain. So much fun to see how things went inside the cockpit.
Legroom was satisfying, especially after the captain adjusted his seat to the front.
Seat pocket contents: safety card, airsickness bag, Susi Air promotional brochures for their VIP & charter services.
Aerial views are always everyone's favorite, including our Capt. Very well prepared.
The toll road seen from above. Top right view is Jakarta skyscrapers.
Clearer view of Jakarta skyline, along with Halim golf course below.
Finally, it was time to land. FO took the control while the captain was busy with his camera. Landing was as smooth as the take off.
Our aircraft was parked next to PK-LAT, an A320-214 with special BNI credit card livery, bound for YIA. Seen behind was PK-BLB bound for SUB.
Halim becomes home for QG and ID, along with SI. Seen at right was QG's ATR72 which used to fly to BDO as well. Now it only serves route between HLP and JOG.
Nice mural to see at arrival gate.
Historical moments of Tjililitan airstrip during Dutch era.
Interesting relief at baggage claim hall, showing Indonesian diversities.
Didn't know this tagline before of HLP as Jakarta City Airport. This makes sense as it's closer to city center than CGK. More efficient, though.
A hand-written boarding pass ? I do not remember when was the last time I received one !
Pilots can love flying too ! :)
Great picture of the runway before landing. Flying in such a small aircraft is always a treat ! I fully agree with the rationale for the entertainment rating.
Thanks for sharing!
As I'm a pilot myself, I find it a bit weird and awkward of the captain to capture photos in an open cockpit in the most critical phase of the flight..... Should not have happened and definitely not in front of passengers...
Thanks for the review though.
Wow, looks like a really cool experience! Not sure how I feel about the captain taking photos during landing, but I imagine that the First Officer was flying the aircraft at that point...still, it would make me nervous considering flying on small aircraft can be pretty scary already haha.
Thanks for this exotic review!