"The cooperation discussion of Sukhoi and PTDI still continue, without being hindered by the incident. PTDI plans to make the aircraft`s tail," The President Director of PTDI, Budi Santoso, said.Bandung, W Java (ANTARA News) - The President Director of state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), Budi Santoso, said the company`s plan to manufacture and supply the Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft tail would continue despite the accident two weeks ago in West Java.
"The cooperation discussion of Sukhoi and PTDI still continue, without being hindered by the incident. PTDI plans to make the aircraft`s tail," he said here on Wednesday.
Budi stated the cooperation plan had reached an advanced stage and, even before the Sukhoi plane crashed into Mount Salak on Wednesday (May 9), it was already decided that PTDI would become one of component suppliers for the SSJ-100 aircraft.
"Based on the initial plan, the meeting will take place and the cooperation still continues. We have prepared a schedule for it," he said.
PTDI would make the tail section of the SSJ-100, comprising the rear horizontal left and right wing, the vertical wings, and the plane`s tail.
Budi also expressed hope the cooperation would be in full swing by 2014, when PTDI could supply 40 tail pieces per year.
"The plane`s tail components are to be used by all Sukhoi SJ-100 aircraft that will be marketed worldwide. We have received more than 500 orders for the plane`s tail unit," he said.
Before the plane crash, PTDI had even formed a team to follow up on the cooperation initiative. The late Kornel Mandagi Sihombing, Head of Business Development and Aerostructure Integration Division PTDI, had been appointed the project leader.
Unfortunately, Kornel was killed during the demonstration flight.
"Kornel was the leader for the Sukhoi cooperation project and we lost him. However, a discussion on the cooperation`s continuation will resume as soon as possible," Budi explained.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
