JAKARTA: Indonesian homegrown aircraft N219 is scheduled to make its maiden flight on Aug 10 in Bandung.
State-owned aircraft manufacturer Dirgantara Indonesia told Channel NewsAsia that a deal for the sale of the first 40 aircraft will also be sealed on that day.
The 19-seater twin propeller plane, which was unveiled to the public in December 2015, is designed to fly in remote and mountainous areas in Indonesia.
There has been a lot of interest in the light transport aircraft – orders for 40 units will be completed soon, with another 40 waiting in the wings.
“We would like to have this contract signing at the same time when we fly this aircraft,” said Budi Santoso, President, Dirgantara Indonesia. “This is an Indonesian company, we would like to make it a surprise when we sign the contract; we have 40 orders and we are currently negotiating with another company for another 40.”
More than 300 staff are working on the project, many of them young local engineers. This is the first time Dirgantara Indonesia is undertaking a project without relying on foreign expertise.
The N219's close competitor is the Canadian twin otter, and the Indonesian aerospace firm said it is confident it will be able to compete based on technology and price.
“As a newcomer, we have to make it at a lower cost than current players in this field,” said Mr Budi. “We are convinced that this aircraft is cheaper to operate compared to our competitors. When we designed this aircraft, we used an engine that is cheaper to operate.”
Dirgantara Indonesia insists that a smaller price tag does not mean inferior quality, as the safety of the aircraft will not compromised.
The N219 took just five years to make, with delivery for the first planes slated for 2017. The aircraft is presently undergoing certification by Indonesia's transport ministry. The aircraft will also be going through a second round of certification for it to be exported.
COUNTRIES INTERESTED IN THE N219
Already, a number of countries have expressed interest in the N219. Thailand is keen to purchase 20 units, and Nepal has signalled its intention to acquire six units. Dirgantara Indonesia said it is also working with several African nations to transfer knowledge and to also explore the possibility of assembling the N219 in Africa.
“If we can succeed with the N219, then we can start exporting the knowledge; Africa is interesting because there is a large market for a 20-seater aircraft,” said Gerry Soejatman, Managing Consultant, Communicavia.
“Africa is similar to Indonesia; there are remote areas that have air access, but the benefit is that most of these areas are not as rugged as Indonesia's Papua mountains, and aircraft models that don't make it into the highly rugged markets tend to succeed in Africa.”
He added: “If we can produce a good-quality aircraft, we can dominate the African market because for them if it's cheap, and it’s able to fly to most of the places they want to, they will buy it.”
Aviation analysts said there have not been many successful players in the 20-seater aircraft market, and if the N219 can meet market demands, the potential for success is huge. Its success can also help revitalise the Indonesian aviation industry, and propel it to greater heights in the region.
(Culled from channelnewsasia.com)
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