Dirgantara Indonesia to supply Bell chopper for government

Monday, 10 August 2009

The Jakarta Post

State-owned aircraft producer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) on Monday signed an agreement with US company Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. to supply the Indonesian government with Bell 412- EP helicopters.

“This agreement is a wonderful opportunity for us, as we have had good relationship for many years,” president director and CEO of Bell Helicopter Richard J. Millman said at the ceremony.

Sahala Lumban Gaol, deputy minister for strategic industries and energy to the state minister of state enterprises, and US Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume also attended the ceremony.

PTDI and Bell Helicopter had previously provided helicopters to various parties in the country. However in 2000, their partnership came to a standstill as those institutions were no longer ordering helicopters.

Under the agreement, components of Bell 412 EP helicopters will be manufactured in North America and assembled at PTDI’s factory in Bandung, West Java. During the assembly process, PTDI will add equipment and accessories that are needed by the government.

Arie Wibowo, PTDI vice president for marketing and sales aircraft integration, said his company was targeting to produce 22 Bell helicopters by 2014. (naf)