TEMPO.CO, Bandung - State-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) handed over a BELL 412EP helicopter and a CN295 aircraft to the National Police.
“The use of the nation’s products, besides being a national pride that must be improved, is also a long-term effort to gradually reduce dependence on foreign countries,” said Director of PTDI Elfien Goentoro, Wednesday, December 5.
The BELL 412EP helicopter produced by PTDI is the realization of the contract on September 21, 2015. The order of the helicopter was completed seven months earlier than the deadline stated in the contract, which is July 2019.
In the same contract, the National Police also ordered CN295 aircraft. The aircraft was handed over to the institution on September 7, 2018, four months earlier than the deadline; January 2019.
The BELL 412EP helicopter is a medium-class helicopter manufactured jointly by PTDI and Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. The CN295 aircraft was manufactured by PTDI together with the Airbus Defense & Space (ADS). The helicopter and aircraft were used by the National Police to assist in the operation of the air police.
“Especially in meeting the needs of defense equipment and other equipment needed by the National Police,” Elfien said.
The Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said that the CN295 aircraft had been used to transport personnel and logistics to help victims of the Lombok earthquake in West Nusa Tenggara and victims of the Palu earthquake in Central Sulawesi.
The police have used a number of aircraft and helicopters manufactured by PTDI, including NC212-200, BO105, BELL 412SP, BELL 412EP. The BELL 412EP helicopter can carry 15 people, has a maximum speed of 122 knots with 364 Nautical Mile (NM).
AHMAD FIKRI
