Indonesia's DI asked to join Airbus 'superjumbo' production

JAKARTA (JP): The European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company NV. (EADS) has asked Indonesia to take part in the production of Airbus Industrie's giant A380 jet airplane, the government said on Tuesday.

Minister of Trade and Industry Luhut B. Pandjaitan said EADS had offered to involve local aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) in the A380 project.

"Their trust in IPTN really took us by surprise," Luhut said at a press meeting, referring to DI by its former name, Industry Pesawat Terbang Nusantara.

He said Indonesia was being offered the opportunity to work on the tail of the giant 555-seater A380 at DI's production site in Bandung, West Java.

"Their (EADS'') team is moving fast. This week they will be in Bandung to view IPTN's capacity and its capabilities," he said.

So far, DI's experience has been limited to the production of small aircraft, such as the turboprop CN-235 aircraft.

The company has been eying the production of jet airplanes for years, but the 1997 economic crisis stymied its ambition.

Luhut gave no explanation as to why EADS had chosen Indonesia, other than saying that the company had full confidence in the quality of DI's work.

EADS is a major European aerospace company, producing aircraft, defense materials and space systems. It is involved in the production of the A380.

First deliveries of the A380 are slated for delivery by 2006, with test flights due to start in 2004.

If completed, the A380 would boast a wingspan of 80 meters (264 feet), a length of 73 meters (241 feet) and a height of 24 meters (80 feet)

Luhut further said that Spain had offered Indonesia a place in the consortium for the development of a military version of the Airbus 400.

In return, he said, they had asked for Indonesia's help in marketing the aircraft.

Luhut hinted that Indonesia could purchase the A400 to replace its aging military planes.

"The A400 could benefit us, as we're still suffering from the United State's military embargo and therefore cannot replace our old planes," he said.

If everything went smoothly, he went on, the A400 would start flying by the year 2006, by which time he expected Indonesia's economy to have also recovered.

He said Spain had also offered to have the Cassa 212 production line built entirely in Bandung.

"This month their team (from Airbus 400) will visit Bandung to follow up on the offers," he said. (bkm)