N219 Aircraft Completes 15th Test Flight

Bandung, West Java, MINA – State-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) conducted another test flight of its N219 aircraft at the Husein Sastanegara International Airport in Bandung, West Java, on Friday, Antara News reported.

“Today, we conducted the 15th test flight of the N219 aircraft to secure an air worthiness certificate. The certification is a lengthy process, as (the aircraft) must complete 300 hours of test flights to secure it,” PT DI expert Andi Alisjahbana stated.

As of Friday, the N219 aircraft had undergone 17 hours of test flights.

During the test flight, the plane, piloted by Esther Gayatri Saleh, took off from the airport at 9 a.m. local time on Friday and successfully landed at around 10 a.m. local time.

One of the important determining factors for any aircraft to be declared airworthy is that it must secure a certificate from the Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operation of the Indonesian Transportation Ministry, he noted.

“In essence, before the aircraft can be put to public service, it must guarantee the security and safety of its passengers,” he remarked.

During the test flight this time, PT DI focused on the capability of the N219 aircraft to perform a flip maneuver of around 10 degrees, he explained.

“What we are doing today is to observe the response of its elevator on the rear of the aircraft. It is a kind of tail that is in a vertical and horizontal position,” he stated.

“We test it. There is feather duster on the aircraft`s tail to see whether the air flow is according to specifications. If not, we will improve it,” he noted.

He believes the N219 aircraft will be able to complete 300 hours of test flights this year. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)