N219 Aircraft and Roadmap Make Aerospace Industry Triumphant
Rep: Erik PP/ Ed: Erik Purnama Putra
N219 aircraft in the hangar of PT Dirgantara Indonesia, Bandung City, West Java.
Photo: PT DI Dock
Rabu 21 Dec 2022
04:43 WIB
The development of domestic aircraft increases Indonesia's economic productivity.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, the aerospace industry is a solution for Indonesia to become a developed country in the future. This is because from the results of studies and research, only the aircraft industry can provide the greatest added value to Indonesia's economic growth in a sustainable manner.
The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) also launched the 2022-2045 Aerospace Industry Ecosystem Development Roadmap. The Roadmap can be a guide for the implementation of development policies to realize a competitive national aerospace industry, as well as bring progress, and common prosperity.
Deputy for Economic Affairs of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti explained, if the government wants to increase the per capita income of the Indonesian people consistently, the solution must be able to encourage PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) together with all parties to develop domestic aircraft.
From the studies conducted by
Bappenas and other stakeholders, he said, Indonesia must be willing to learn from the United States (US). That's because the aerospace industry in the U.S. is the industry with the second largest average wage after the information and technology (IT) sector.
On that basis, Indonesia inevitably has to make the domestic aircraft industry successful. Consequently, if the move is successful then high economic growth could continue to be achieved for years.
"One of the keys we can drive long-term economic growth can only be by increasing productivity. Without increased productivity, Indonesia cannot grow sustainably for the long term," she said at the Indonesia Development Forum (IDF) 2022 themed 'Reviving The Aerospace Industries Through Sustainable Aircraft Project in Indonesia' in Nusa Dua, Badung Regency, Bali on November 22, 2022.
Amalia explained, to develop the stages of industrialization in Indonesia, it can be started by focusing on
human capital intensive industry. He said that if the government is able to encourage the domestic aircraft industry to squirm, other related industries will definitely move. As a result, it can create a multiplier effect for the Indonesian economy.
According to Amalia, the most important thing is that the development of domestically made aircraft supports the process of technology adoption to increase Indonesia's economic productivity. He revealed that the development of the aerospace industry has been included in Indonesia's Vision 2045.
In the next century of celebrating Indonesia's independence, the industrial sector is targeted to be a driver of economic growth with a contribution of 26 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Amalia realized that developing the entrepreneurship industry would face a big deal. So that the matter cannot be handed over to PT DI alone.
"We have to do this in a
callaborative effort. If we want to increase competitiveness quickly and encourage progressive economic growth most importantly, PT DI, government, academia, and the entire aerospace ecosystem must work together shoulder to shoulder," amalia said.
Production Director of PT DI
Batara Silaban said that his party is now developing the
N219 aircraft as a product of the nation's children. He emphasized that the aircraft with a capacity of 19 passengers really started from the process of designing the building, becoming a prototype, to certification, carried out by PT DI employees as the nation's sons and daughters.
"It is clear that N219 is one
aircraft project we
revive the existing industry, making N219 an icon of building the aerospace industry," said Batara.
He explained that PT DI's background in developing N219 is to reach areas that are indeed difficult to access other transportation. Therefore, the design of N219 is devoted to reaching pioneer areas and mountainous areas that have minimal airport facilities.
"The design of N219 is in accordance with the characteristics of the Indonesian archipelago. In addition to connectivity, N219 can also (be for) logistics in pioneering areas, configurations can also be for health and disaster services, as well as defense systems, to support the tourism industry, can be configured according to existing needs," said Batara.
He stated that PT DI has identified and projected the potential market needs of N219 in the country to reach 131 aircraft. The figure consists of 77 ordinary aircraft and 54 seaplanes, which can be used for local government (pemda), defense sector, and institutions.
Batara is grateful that PT Karya Logistik Indotama (KLI) has signed a contract to purchase 11 units of N219 during the Indo Defence 2022 event. The Indonesian Army will also order 10 units and the Riau Islands Provincial Government (Pemprov Kepri) three units.
With such a contract in sight, he said, PT DI certainly needs the support of financing sources in order to fulfill orders. If the financial problems are met, Batara believes, PT DI can immediately catch up with the first flight for 24 months from now or in other words the product will be handed over in mid-2024.
He emphasized that if the N219 aircraft is properly realized, it will contain a local content of about 44.96 percent, which involves 19 local industries supplying components. According to Batara, if N219 production is running, the government targets in the term the domestic content level (TKDN) to reach 60 percent.
On that basis, PT DI requested support so that the N219 project could run smoothly. Thus, the work process is able to have a tremendous impact on the development of related industries. "This can provide
added value for all parties," said Batara.
Meanwhile, aviation expert
Ilham Habibie said that aerospace technology has been classified as
high tech. Even so, he advised PT DI as an integrator of aviation industry companies to start paying attention to the arrival of new technologies that are being developed in various parts of the world.
Although there is no certainty, he said, in the future, aircraft technology will not only rely on avtur. Ilham advised PT DI to follow the latest technology to anticipate changes in the future. The goal is that Indonesia can adapt when the latest technology is used in the world aviation industry.
"Once upon a time an aircraft would be able to fly and take off entirely from electric or partial power, whether
fully electric or hybrid, or completely changed concept to hydrogen as fuel. Making our industry environmentally friendly and climate-friendly is a necessity, not only an impact but we must develop it," said Ilham.
Prevent foreign exchange from escaping
Vice Chairman of CSE Aviation, Samudra Sukardi explained, Indonesia, which consists of 270 million people with 17,000 islands, has around 600
airports and
airstrips. With such conditions, the presence of aircraft can be used as an air bridge, because each region is not connected to each other.
"Air bridge means air transportation. To accelerate the economic growth of the province or region, it is necessary to transport air throughout Indonesia," said Samudra.
He assessed that Indonesia, which is an archipelagic country, needs a
feeder aircraft in charge of transporting passengers from small cities to big cities or small cities to small cities to be collected in big cities. So, the presence of the N219 aircraft is really a need that must be met immediately.
With the presence of PT DI production aircraft, it can supply considerable domestic needs. Samudra considers that the size of the N219 aircraft under development is that it has almost no competitors abroad, so its products can be easily absorbed by the domestic market.
"It's a plane that's hard to replicate. Singapore alone is difficult to imitate, this is a flagship, because it accelerates the growth of the national economy, both state and provincial. This prevents foreign exchange from escaping," Samudra said.
He gave an example, the local government in Papua has been buying foreign-made aircraft. That way, there is money coming out for payment. For this reason, the local government should later buy N219 aircraft to be operated to carry passengers or goods in the Papua region.
"In order to build an air bridge, it is necessary to unify the policies of all relevant departments to be integrated, support the interests of the industrial ecosystem, and prioritize N219 products as superior so that
a multiplier effect will occur. The market must be encouraged by the Ministry of Defense, Bakamla, local government, lest they (buy) out, because foreign exchange comes out," said Samudra.
Suitable for Papua
Director of PT Aviasi Puncak Papua (APP) Samuel Resoeboen said, in Papua there are actually 700
airstrips. It's just that only 300
airstrips have been flattened and have certificates from the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub). Most of the
airstrip was built by locals, whose location was in the mountains and the length of the runway was below 1,000 meters.
He also shared his experience when he had to take a pioneer plane at several airfields in Puncak Jaya Regency, whose locations were very challenging. Marome Airstrip, for example, is at 6,200 feet with a runway length of 350 meters, Sinokla Airstrip at 4,250 feet with a runway length of 566 meters, and Hukimo Airtsrip at 5,920 feet with a runway length of only 210 meters.
He explained, the geographical condition of Puncak Jaya Regency which consists of 26 districts and 206 villages is at an altitude of 2,600-4,000 meters. Access to Puncak Regency can only be passed by plane. If PT DI can complete N219, then surely the local government in Papua is very interested in buying it.
That way, the turnover of money in Papua remains in the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. His party is also ready to promote the aircraft made by the nation's children to various local governments on Cenderawasih Earth. As a consequence, Samuel said, the Ministry of Transportation and PT DI must create
maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities in Papua.
This is so that the aircraft maintenance process can be carried out without the need to leave the island. Not only that, Samuel admitted that he was also ready to help market N219 to neighboring countries whose geographical location is similar to Papua.
"Our neighboring country Papua New Guinea also needs a lot of aircraft like N219, we can help sell there. Open an MRO (aircraft workshop), a lot of planes in Papua New Guinea there is nothing (workshops) there, can come to us for maintenance," Samuel said.
Not to forget, Samuel reminded, PT DI must ask permission from the Ministry of Transportation to conduct flight tests in Papua. Because if N219 can successfully pass the
approval test in Papua, he believes, the whole world will flock to buy the aircraft. This is because the flying terrain in Papua is very challenging and can test the toughness of the aircraft.
"Because it's this condition, he (the plane) succeeded, everyone was interested, it's a superior aircraft. We have an additional four new provinces and development needs more aircraft, it needs small aircraft and the N219 market is wide open," Samuel said.
Pengembangan pesawat terbang dalam negeri tingkatkan produktivitas ekonomi Indonesia.
www.republika.co.id
www.cnnindonesia.com
