Eight countries eye N-250 aircraft

JAKARTA (JP): Eight countries, including Turkey, Argentina, the United States, Pakistan, Columbia, Saudi Arabia, Burkina Faso, and Sweden, have expressed interest in buying N-250 commuter aircraft produced domestically by Indonesia.

The state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN) announced on Friday that Pakistan had made a firm commitment to buy 15 N-250 turboprop airplanes, Columbia to purchase four units, and Sweden another 12 units.

The other five countries have expressed strong interest in purchasing the fly-by-wire airplanes but have yet to make firm orders.

IPTN, which currently produces CN-235 airplanes under a license agreement with Spain's CASA, launched its first N-250 airplane in August last year. The plane, with seating capacity for 50 to 76 passengers, and a maximum speed of 330 knots (612 kilometers) an hour, uses IPTN's own design and technology.

The N-250 has flown in test flights at an altitude of 25,000 feet (8,000 meters), and at 600 kilometers an hour. The turboprop aircraft uses the latest fly-by-wire computerized technology and incorporates modern digital avionics and engine controls.

The aircraft has not yet received flight certification.

State Minister for Research and Technology B.J. Habibie said last week that IPTN has appointed Aircraft Service Lemwerder of Germany to market its N-250 commuter airplanes in Europe.

Habibie, who is president of the airplane manufacturing company, said a cooperation agreement with the German company will be signed soon.

"We will formally conclude the deal during the visit of German Chancellor Helmut Kohl later this month," the minister said.

IPTN is currently building the first prototype of its N-2130, a 1,300 passenger jet, which is scheduled for roll-over in 2002. The jet will be the second Indonesian-made aircraft after the N- 250 turboprop passenger plane.

Habibie said that if the German company is able to sell 18 N- 250 airplanes per year, the firm could be granted a license to jointly produce the turboprop aircraft.

IPTN last year established a joint venture company in Alabama, the United States, to handle the assembling and marketing of its aircraft in the U.S. (hen)