Connecting Connectivity, Aceh Buy Aircraft N219

KBRN, Bandung: Acting Governor of Aceh, Nova Iriansyah, signed a cooperation agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the procurement of N219 aircraft and human resource development and operation of Aceh's air transport with PT Dirgantara Indonesia (Persero) in the Plenary Meeting Room, Building Management Center of PT Dirgantara Indonesia, Bandung, Monday (12/09/2019).

The aircraft procurement was carried out to improve connectivity between regions in Aceh in the context of improving the community's economy and regional development.

"Our hope, PT. Dirgantara Indonesia can meet this pioneering transportation needs, so that relations between regions in Aceh will be better," Nova said in a press release received by RRI.

Nova admitted, building pioneering flights between regions in Aceh was not easy. A number of private parties have tried, but later stopped their operations for economic reasons.

As a result, there are currently only 5 airports in pioneer flights in Aceh that are still running. Even then, with a limited frequency, between 1 to 2 flights per week. While other flights more often make Kuala Namu Airport in North Sumatra as the link. While 7 airports in the Regency / city in a state of no activity.

That condition, said Nova, made the Aceh Government must intervene to overcome the problem.

"Especially in the development program that we planned, connectivity between regions is one of the priorities," Nova said.

Nova continued, the effort to connect regions in Aceh was not only carried out in the air transportation sector. In the sea transportation sector, the Government of Aceh has also established cooperation with a number of domestic shipping industries to procure Ferry vessels to increase the intensity of inter-island shipping.

"In the air transportation sector, we deliberately chose to work with PT. Dirgantara Indonesia, because of us
know aircraft made by children of this nation have been recognized by the world, "said Nova.

Nova hoped that at least until 2022 the Aceh Government could obtain 4 N219 aircraft that were ideal for pioneering inter-island air transportation in Indonesia.

"Furthermore, of course we expect the support and assistance of PT. DI to transfer of knowledge in order to improve the human resources of the Aceh aerospace sector," Nova said.

Furthermore, Nova explained that the reason for the Aceh Government's need for the aircraft was because it was to connect the Aceh regions with a very wide area, which reached 59 thousand Km2 for land area and 295 thousand Km2 for sea area.

The length of the coastline also reaches more than 2,600 km, with a total of around 180 islands. Of all the islands, 44 of them inhabited.

"With such a vast area, relations between regions are often constrained. For example, the distance between Banda Aceh City and Singkil Regency reaches 760 Km. If using land transportation, it takes 15 hours to cover that distance," Nova said.

Likewise, the relationship between Banda Aceh City and Simeulue Island took 7 hours by land
before heading to South Aceh, then crossing the sea by ferry for 8 hours. While the journey from the city of Banda Aceh to the Central and Southeast Aceh region is no less strenuous.

On the other hand, Nova also explained, Aceh is currently also developing the tourism sector and pioneering the development of investment which of course requires smooth transportation.

Cooperation between the Government of Aceh and PT. Dirgantara Indonesia which was approved today is basically a revision of the previous MoU. Previously, both parties had signed a MoU on 7 February 2018, to coincide with the event
Airshow in Singapore.

N219 is a Multifunctional Airplane

Managing Director of PT. Dirgantara Indonesia, Elfien Goentoro, in his explanation to Nova Iriansyah said, N219 was developed to meet the needs of national air transportation in pioneer areas that could be used for various needs, such as passenger transportation, freight transportation and air ambulances.

He explained, N219 had conducted its first test flight on August 16, 2017. Currently the aircraft is still undergoing a series of certification testing. The certification process is an important process to guarantee security and safety because it will be used by customers and the general public.

Elfien stated that PTDI was committed to completing the certification process in order to obtain a Type Certificate from the Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operation (DKPPU), the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia.

"Hopefully the N219 aircraft can immediately serve the people of Aceh and encourage and increase accessibility and economic growth in the Aceh Province," Elfien said.

In this activity, the Acting Governor was accompanied by the Head of the Aceh Transportation Agency, Junaidi, the Head of the Aceh Financial Management Agency, Bustami, the Head of the Aceh Regional Secretariat's Public Relations and Protocol, Muhammad Iswanto, Governor's Special Staff Thamrin Ananda, and a number of other guests.