REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- State-owned aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia said its product of N219 would sell well in international market as it has superior design with highly competitive price.

"We produce N219 to suit the market demand. Therefore, it must be competitive in price but superior in its class," Program Manager of PT Dirgantara Indonesia Budi Sampurno said here on Saturday.

Budi said the price of N219 is only US$5 million per unit as against US$5.5 million to US$7 million per unit of rival products such as Twin Otter, Dornier-228 and Y12 of China .

Many countries have natural condition with mountainous terrain or made of groups of islands that they would need small aircraft that could land on a 500 meter long landing strip, he said.

The entire structure of N219 use the technology already well mastered by the company as used for CN235 and N250 aircraft. The aircraft does not use advanced technology, therefore, it has little risk of being failed, he said.

The process of manufacturing is shorter and the cost is cheaper, he added.

N219 uses components which are also used by other aircraft that are found in global market, but are integrated and modified, he said.

"Its uses double engines from PWC of Canada used by 75 percent of all aircraft in the world. Its avionic system is sophisticated product of Garbin G-1000 that could fly with single pilot and easy to be operated, and its propeller system is from Hartzell," he said.

Budi said currently N219 is still being designed but in July 2014, the process would begin for the production of components for static and fatigue test and flight test to secure certificate of air worthiness.

"By the end of 2016 we hope to secure the air worthiness certificate for N219 and in 2017 mass production would begin with production of 12 units per year," he said.

In addition, N219 is designed as a convenient aircraft with cabin ceiling 170 cm high as against 150 cm of other aircraft of its class, he said.

The aircraft could safely carry a load of 2,300 kg as against 1,800 kg maximum load of other aircraft, he said.

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