PTDI Sent CN235 Aircraft Ordered by The Nepalese Army

Bandung (ANTARA) - PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) sent a CN235-220 aircraft with military transport to Kathmandu for the needs of the Nepalese Army.

PTDI Director Elfien Goentoro said the plane was planned to arrive on Saturday (11/11) to Nepal after being flown from the Husein Sastranegara Air Force Base Bandung on Wednesday (10/30).

"So this plane, we want to send CN235 exports to Kathmandu, Nepal. So on the Nepal Army contract in June 2017, Alhamdulillah we can send on time," Elfien said at the PTDI Fixed Wing Hangar, Jalan Pajajaran, Bandung, Wednesday.

The nation's aircraft, he said, had six configuration modes that could be applied as needed. Among them are the mode of transport, cargo, paratroop, medevac, maritime patrol and even VIP.

According to him Nepal has ordered the aircraft with several configuration modes. While the configuration mode completeness facility, he said, had already been sent to Nepal via cargo lane.

"We have the cargo type configuration tools, which are installed this is paratroops mode," he said.

The CN235-220 aircraft was flown by Captain Esther Gayatri Saleh as a Test Pilot in Command and Flight Instructor and Captptain Ervan Gustanto as a Copilot. The aircraft will be carried out advanced flight tests and Final Acceptance Flight by the Nepalese Army.

According to him the contract value of the aircraft was approximately 30 million US dollars. But the value of the aircraft, he said, could also be affected by the cost of spare parts and other needs.

"So, LPEI (Indonesian Export Financing Institution) for exports to Africa and South Asia, we get Rp400 billion in financing, and specifically for Nepal, working capital is around Rp207 billion," he said.