IPTN and Hawker to make CN-235-330 plane parts

IPTN and Hawker to make CN-235-330 plane parts

MELBOURNE (Antara): Indonesian aircraft manufacturer IPTN
signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) here Thursday with
Hawker de Havilland for the composite design and manufacture of
the CN-235-330 aircraft.

The MOU was signed by IPTN vice president for marketing Aditya
Kusuma and Hawker marketing manager Frank Makin at the Australian
Air Show at Avalon Airport, Geelong, which ends Sunday.

The project is worth A$18 million. Hawker will provide A$11.5
million and IPTN A$6.5 million. The agreement is a follow up to
IPTN's proposal to supply Australia with CN-235-330 Phoenix
aircraft.

The Royal Australian Air Force has said it will replace its
Caribous planes.

Kusuma said the two companies would produce CN-235-330
components in the project's first stage.

He said the cooperation was expected to give the two companies
a chance to exchange experts and open new job and investment
opportunities.

He said IPTN would send several experts to Hawker de
Havilland's factory in Bankstown, New South Wales.

Kusuma said he hoped the two companies could broaden the
cooperation to cover other projects like the "Light Tactical
Transport Aircraft Capability" next year.

Aerospace Technical Services' Michael Jones, in his capacity
as IPTN Phoenix project manager in Australia, said he hoped the
cooperation would not only be applied only for the CN-235-330
Phoenix but also for other aircraft like the N-250 and N-2130.

Australia's Shadow Minister for Transport Lindsay Tanner
welcomed the signing of the MOU because it was the realization of
talks between former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating and
Indonesian State Minister for Research and Technology B.J.
Habibie.

Also Thursday, a cooperation was signed by IPTN and the Royal
Aeronautical Society Australian Division.