Koh Sichang: The Royal Thai Army has initiated a project to construct a helicopter landing zone on Koh Sichang, aimed at enhancing air medical transport capabilities for patients. Lt. Col. Pawina Sribuachum, assistant spokesperson of the Royal Thai Army, announced the deployment of military engineers to support the development of essential public utilities in the area.
According to Thai News Agency, the Royal Thai Army's Department of Military Engineering has dispatched engineers from the 111th Engineer Battalion, equipped with necessary machinery, to build a standard helicopter range. This includes a backhoe with a rock-crushing drill head, a vibratory roller, a 10-ton truck, a 5-ton truck for towing, and a team of 16 volunteer military engineers. The team was transported to Koh Sichang from Koh Loi Pier in Sri Racha District, a journey that took approximately 4-5 hours by barge.
The helicopter landing zone will feature one 12x20 meter pad and two 6x20 meter pads, connected by a 4-meter wide walkway to accommodate all aircraft types. Situated on the Crown Property Bureau's land, under the supervision of the Water Resources Institute Center, Chulalongkorn University, the pads are designed to support aircraft weighing up to 25 tons.
The Royal Thai Army plans to complete the construction within 45 days, aiming to facilitate the rapid air transport of emergency patients and effectively respond to urgent situations. This initiative is expected to enhance the quality of life for Koh Sichang residents and bolster confidence in the safety of tourism on the island.