RI plane completes UN mission

BANDUNG: A Buffalo DHC-9 aircraft, belonging to state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT. Dirgantara Indonesia, returned home Tuesday after a 15-month United Nations humanitarian mission in Kenya.

Djoko Widadiyo, a member of the aircraft's crew, told reporters here that during its humanitarian mission in Kenya the 1976 Canada-made aircraft had operated for six to eight hours per day, carrying around eight tons of humanitarian aid for the victims of a local civil war.

"There was no engine trouble during its 15 months of operation in Kenya," said Djoko.

PT. Dirgantara Indonesia received five Buffalo DHC-9 aircraft and four Cassa 212 aircraft in 1994 from United Arab Emirates as part of a barter deal for six CN-235 aircraft produced by IPTN, the company's former name.

The company's Public Relations Manager Rakhendi Triyatna said the five Buffalo aircraft had actually been sold to the Indonesian Military (TNI) in 1996 for US$ 3.5 million per aircraft.

"After undergoing standard maintenance for two weeks here, we'll send three of them to the Army, while the remaining two will go to the Navy," Rakhendi said. (25/44)