IPTN to repeat assembly procedures on 2nd N-250

BANDUNG, West Java (JP): State-owned airplane manufacturer PT IPTN is required to remove and reinstall a number of components of its second N-250 airplane for quality control and approval by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) of the United States.

The senior executive vice-president and general manager of PT Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN), Hari Laksono, said here yesterday that the procedure has delayed the manufacturing of the second aircraft prototype.

"The second prototype of the N-250 will have its maiden flight in December," he said when King Taufa's Ahau Tupou IV of Tonga made an official visit to IPTN.

The maiden flight of the second prototype, called Krincingwesi, was originally scheduled for May.

The N-250, equipped with fly-by-wire electronics, is a turboprop commuter airplane with a top speed of 300 nautical miles per hour.

IPTN is assembling four N-250 prototypes -- the Gatotkoco, Krincingwesi, Koconegoro and Pututguritno. The names come from the ancient Mahabarata epic.

President Soeharto inaugurated the first prototype, Gatotkoco, in November 1994 and witnessed the maiden flight in August last year.

Krincingwesi is specially designed for certification before the N-250 aircraft enter the market, particularly in the United States in 1999.

Laksono said the development of the second N-250 airplane was originally on schedule. "However, the country's Directorate of Air Certification does not have any rules which support aviation manufacturing."

"A spare part will not be recognized if there is no IPTN executive examination when the equipment was purchased. It takes time to take out a number of components and install them again."

He said the airplane had undergone a series of tests at IPTN.

Meanwhile, King Taufa's Ahau Tupou IV of Tonga said yesterday that he intended to buy a Super Puma helicopter.

The king was interested in the helicopter in a configuration for very important persons.

To follow up, IPTN's vice president for commercial affairs, Heru Santosa, said his company will soon submit a proposal to Tonga on the helicopter's specifications. (17/icn)