Coordinating Minister IPK: N219 Aircraft Supports Pioneer Flight Routes

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) has said the domestically produced N219 aircraft supports pioneer flight routes. He noted that many regional heads from various parts of Indonesia, including areas requiring more tactical air connectivity due to challenging geographical conditions not always reachable by larger aircraft, have expressed demand. “Therefore, the focus is indeed on pioneer flight routes. And this is where the demand conveyed by regional heads as well as industry and business players in those areas aligns, why? Because of the limited infrastructure,” AHY stated in Jakarta on Wednesday. He explained that the N219 aircraft has the capacity and capability that can be considered effective for manoeuvring in such geographical conditions, which are full of challenges, mountains, dense forests, and so forth. Technically, he said, it is sufficient with a runway approximately 800 metres long and unpaved, meaning it does not need to be very long or in a very thick and smooth condition because it has the characteristics capable of short take-off and landing. “This means if we focus on a number of aircraft that continue to be developed, especially the N219, this is truly domestic development and production where the local content component is already more than 46 percent. And this is something very good,” said AHY. For information, the state-owned aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) is preparing the N219 to become a commercial aircraft for carrying passengers or cargo. PTDI President Director Gita Amperiawan said the company will enter the commercial aircraft market, both for provincial connectors and for business, with the N219 used for passengers or cargo. According to him, they are currently in the process of building quality human resources, carrying out the role as an Aircraft Maintenance Training Organization (AMTO) that certifies local human resources, to support the development of the national aerospace ecosystem including supporting the operation of the N219. Later, the twin otter aircraft capable of carrying 19 passengers, according to Gita, can function effectively at pioneer airports with runways less than one kilometre long and not yet asphalted.