The plane however has also been found useful for non-military family members who failed to get commercial plane tickers.
Suroto in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, said here on Monday he flew aboard the Hercules after he failed to get a commercial plane ticket because of its soaring price.
"I happened to have a friend at Sjamsuddin Noor air force base so that I could join going home aboard Hercules today," he said.
He said he was relieved he could get help to go to Solo for Idul Fitri with his family.
The air force base commander, Lt Col Mokh Mukhson, said the plane was actually prepared for military/police members and their families but "common people are also allowed so long as seats are still available for them."
He said the plane set off from Malang in East Java and stopped at several air force bases in the country to pick up passengers.
"Priority is given to military/police members especially those assigned in border areas," he said.
The route has been set in advance and so would-be passengers must adjust themselves to them.
A Hercules plane has so far stopped at the Sjamsudin Noor twice. The first happened on Augsut 25 following the route of Malang, Makassar (South Sulawesi), Tarakan (East Kalimantan), Balikpapan (East Kalimantan), Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan), Solo (Central Java, and Malang.
The second was on August 26 following the route of Malang, Makassar, Banjarmasin, Surabaya (East Java), Yogyakarta and Jakarta.
The third was on Monday, August 29 following the route of Biak (Papua), Kendari (Southeast Sulawesi), Banjarmasin, Solo and Jakarta.
"The number of passengers picked up at Sjamsudin Noor totaled only 30 for each of the flights after other seats were taken by passengers from other cities," he said.
(Uu.H-YH/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
