Dirgantara Indonesia, a supplier of aluminum wing components for Airbus SE’s A320 and A380 jet models, is expanding its production capabilities to also supply non-metal aircraft parts.
The company is “exploring opportunities” to supply so-called composite parts – typically manufactured from fiberglass or carbon fiber – for each Airbus and Boeing Co. over the following two years, CEO Elfien Goentoro said in an interview in Jakarta on Monday.
The state-owned company, which can also be an aircraft manufacturer, goals to triple aircraft production to 56 aircraft per 12 months by 2024, he said.
Expanded production plans would support the Indonesian government’s efforts to scale back the country’s dependence on commodities and reduce its current account deficit. West Java-based Dirgantara expects its newest 19-seat N219 propeller plane to be certified by Indonesian regulators this 12 months, Goentoro said.
“We want to expand our composite parts production facilities, so hopefully by 2021 we will be able to start taking orders for these aircraft parts,” Goentoro said. “We also plan to invest $119 million to build a facility to produce N219.”
Island jumpers
The plane can be utilized in industries including tourism to offer access to distant areas corresponding to a few of the 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago. Goentoro said Dirgantara plans to supply 36 such planes a 12 months by 2024, with a goal of exporting half of them, in addition to producing 20 other propeller planes a 12 months.
Goentoro said the corporate is focusing N219 orders within the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, East Timor, Nepal, Senegal and South Korea this 12 months. “Our company’s intention is to significantly increase exports so that we can achieve a better balance between our domestic contracts and contracts denominated in foreign currencies.”
Goentoro said Dirgantara plans to expand its aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul business and is certified by Airbus to operate a few of the company’s military aircraft and helicopters.
Goentoro said the corporate already supplied parts for the Boeing 737 family of aircraft under a contract that has expired. Dirgantara desires to secure a brand new contract with the American aircraft manufacturer, he said, without specifying whether or not they were in talks.
Goentoro also said it was in talks with Indonesian finance ministry officials to permit the domestically developed N219 model to be sold to customers without the federal government charging luxury tax.
Source : Bloomberg | Jakarta Post Office
