'Island Nation' Indonesia Begins Mass Production of Small Aircraft

Mass Production of Multipurpose Small Aircraft... Faster Travel Between Islands Expected
Preparing for Exports Since 2022

[Asia Economy Jakarta Correspondent Sujin Choi] Dirgantara Indonesia (PT.DI), Indonesia's state-owned aircraft manufacturer, will mass-produce the small aircraft N219 to meet the growing domestic and international demand for small aircraft. The N219 is designed to suit infrastructure development and the tourism industry, reflecting Indonesia's characteristic need to travel between islands.

According to local media such as The Jakarta Post on the 18th, the CEO of PT.DI recently attended the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly and stated, "The Ministry of Transportation is expected to approve the mass production of the N219 by mid-year," adding, "We will meet domestic demand by 2022 and then produce export quantities."

The N219 has a total of 19 seats and can carry 2 tons of cargo. It is also nicknamed 'Nurtanio,' named by President Jokowi after a pioneer of the Indonesian aviation industry, indicating his affection for the aircraft.

PT.DI emphasizes that the N219 is a versatile aircraft capable of navigating the 18,000 narrow runways scattered throughout Indonesia. Compared to the similar Canadian-made 'DHC-6 Twin Otter,' it offers a larger cargo space while being relatively more affordable. The price of the N219 is around 6 million USD.

PT.DI currently has orders for 52 N219 units domestically and 165 units overseas. Aceh Province, located at the northernmost tip of Sumatra, has ordered the aircraft for public transportation services, and orders are pouring in from Kalimantan Province, where Indonesia's new capital will be established. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the first to place an overseas order, followed by Thailand and Senegal. Thailand has also placed additional orders for aircraft used in artificial rainfall operations, and Senegal has ordered additional CN235 multipurpose aircraft.

The People's Consultative Assembly is reportedly officially urging the Minister of Transportation to proceed with the approval process. PT.DI promised a 20% investment in the joint development project of the next-generation fighter IF-X/KF-X between Indonesia and South Korea in 2015 but has only paid 2.5% so far and hinted at a possible withdrawal, sparking controversy over renegotiations.