TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Aceh orders airplanes to serve remote areas
The Aceh government will purchase four N-219 airplanes from state aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) to provide better access to the province’s remote areas
Change Size
T
span>The Aceh government will purchase four N-219 airplanes from state aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) to provide better access to the province’s remote areas.
The acting governor of Aceh province, Nova Iriansyah, said in Bandung, West Java, on Monday that the 19-seat N-219 airplanes were needed to transport passengers and provide public services to remote areas.
A number of airlines once served the province’s regencies, but they later stopped due to a lack of passengers, Nova said following the signing of the purchase agreement at the DI office.
Some areas are currently only accessible by land, and it can take 16 hours to reach them. “And that's not including areas separated by water, which require boats,” Nova said.
Five out of seven airstrips in Aceh are currently operational, but airlines have flights to them only once or twice a week. They consider flights to the areas commercially unviable, Nova said.
"There are only one or two flights a week to each airstrip. Most airlines prefer to fly to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, North Sumatra, to provide a connecting flight," said Nova.
The four N-219 airplanes, which cost US$6 million each, will be delivered to the Aceh government between 2021 and 2022. The regional government plans to designate the four planes for passenger, cargo and medical services.
"We need to ensure the health of the Acehnese people, even those who live in remote areas. We have previously rented airplanes for medical purposes."
In addition, the airplanes can unlock tourism potential as they can open new routes to tourist spots on islands or deep in the forests. For Aceh's geography, the N-219 is the most suitable," said Nova.
DI president director Elfien Goentoro said he hoped one of the four N219 airplanes would be handed over in 2021. The remaining three are expected to be delivered in 2022. According to Elfien, Dirgantara will adjust the terms of payment for the airplanes according to the province’s annual budget (APBD).
"Our priority is to meet the Aceh government's order, although other local governments, such as the Papuan government, have also placed orders," said Elfien.
In all, Dirgantara has signed 238 letters of intent with local and foreign buyers regarding the purchase of N-219 aircraft. To enter the production stage, Dirgantara must get certification from the Transportation Ministry.
"Hopefully by the end of this year, we can get certified. As of now, the [N-219] has amassed over 300 flight hours," said Elfien.
Dirgantara plans to manufacture at least 36 N-219 airplanes next year.
Dirgantara technology development director Gita Amperiawan said there were currently two prototype N-219 airplanes undergoing flight tests and another two N-219 airplanes being structurally tested. One of the planes had passed tests on climbing performance, single-engine flight and night flying.
"We will conduct more trials, especially on flying with one engine. As we will need runways with a width of at least 60 meters, we will do the tests in Kertajati, not Bandung. Of the two prototype planes in flight tests, one has amassed over 100 hours and the other has logged over 200 hours. By the end of this year, we should have certification from the ministry and be able move to the production stage," said Gita.
"When we get the certification for the N-219 at the end of the year, we need to start production planning immediately to determine what sorts of clients will purchase N-219 planes and what their needs will be," he said. (bry)
