Sukarno then asked the name of this airfield to Rajawali Pusadan, the Regent of Donggala Regency at that time. At that time, the airfield was named Masovu which in Kaili language means "Dusty Land".
It was named by the first Indonesian president Sukarno. This name was given by President Sukarno when visiting Palu on October 10, 1957.