TEMPO.CO, Bandung - State-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) has obtained a type certificate for the N219 aircraft by the Civil Aviation Directorate General of the Transportation Ministry on Monday, Dec. 28, 2020.

The certification indicates that the pioneering aircraft developed by PTDI along with the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Lapan) had met regulations so that it could be mass-produced.

For the first production phase, PTDI planned to manufacture four units for the Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Provincial Government. The handover was targeted to be held in July or August 2022.

“In 2021, the existing facilities will start production for the Aceh government,” said PTDI Technology and Development Director, Gita Amperiawan.

Gita added that the Aceh government also agreed that the aircraft would be involved in the further development project, which was not only for the operation in the province but also for better performance.

Additionally, PTDI was striving to obtain the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval so that it could enter the global market, Gita informed. For that, the firm was exploring talks with Airbus Defense and Space (ADS) and the ministry's Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations Directorate.

Gita admitted that PTDI received quite a number of letters of interest (LOI) from abroad for its N219 aircraft products. Several countries such as Turkey, he claimed, were already engaged in talks of possible production and development sharing.

Also Read: PT Dirgantara Indonesia to Produce First N219 Aircraft in 2020

AHMAD FIKRI (CONTRIBUTOR)