PTDI and Airbus Military had signed an agreement to launch an upgraded version of the Airbus Military C212-400, furthering their long-term cooperation.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian aircraft manufacturer PTDI and Airbus Military have strengthened their business partnership through a variety of joint production programs that include long-term agreements between the two companies.

"We are committed to strengthening the business partnership with Airbus Military. The partnership was related to the joint production of C212-400 and C295 aircraft," said Sonny Ibrahim Saleh, Assistant Director of PTDI for Quality Control / Assistant Managing Director for Corporate Communications, in Bandung, West Java, Wednesday.

In a press conference, Sonny said PTDI and Airbus Military had signed an agreement to launch an upgraded version of the Airbus Military C212-400, furthering their long-term cooperation.

The aircraft will be named NC212 and will be offered to civil and military customers, equipped with digital avionics and updated autopilot systems. It will boast new interiors and will be able to carry up to 28 passengers. Given that NC212's current version has a capacity of only 25 passengers, its cost efficiency will rise significantly.

The upgraded aircraft will put NC212 in very competitive bargaining position in the small and medium aircraft market. The aircraft will be certified by The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in accordance with federal aviation regulations part 25, FAR 25.

This agreement includes cooperation in development, manufacturing, commercialization and customer support, to overcome competition in this market segment and meet the need for small aircraft, both for civil, military and cargo use, in the next decade.

Sonny explained that the potential market in this segment was expected to grow to approximately 400-450 aircraft in the next ten years. A Final Assembly Line facility is being prepared in PTDI in Bandung.

The upgraded NC212 is a direct result of the Teaming Agreement. This joint project is a part of PTDI`s revitalization process and includes a new cooperation agreement in NC212 upgrades and business development.

Further, the state- owned aircraft manufacturer has also received an order for nine CN295 from the Ministry of Defense.

Since October 2011, the two companies have put together working teams in PTDI`s facility in Bandung, where Airbus Military's personnel work.

The team is working within in the industrial and commercial areas to create new business for both companies and advance their production, process engineering, information technology, and knowledge transfer capabilities, in order to turn PTDI into a leading small and medium aircraft company in Asia and the Pacific.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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