N219 Test Flight Delayed to August
Jakarta. Test flights of Indonesia's small propeller plane the N219 has been delayed a further three months after the plane developers met problems in clearing safety certificates for some of the aircraft parts.
The aircraft, developed by National Space and Aviation Agency (Lapan) and state aircraft producer Dirgantara Indonesia, was unveiled in December — already five months behind schedule — as part of the country's aspiration to meet demands for small carriers in its remote regions.
Thomas Djamaludin, Lapan chief, said the agency met with difficulties to ready some of the aircraft components for testing.
"We have to be thorough to conform with international standard," Thomas said.
Lapan has rescheduled the test flight for August, but remains confident it would meet production schedule targets in 2017.
N219 is equipped with twin propeller engines and a long wing-span, helping it to land and take off from air strips of less than 800 meters.
The aircraft can carry up to 19 passengers to remote areas of the archipelago.
Lapan and Dirgantara Indonesia has secured 150 orders from Lion Air, Indonesia largest budget airline, Nusantara Buana Air, Aviastar Mandiri and Trigana Air Service.
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