Indonesian Aerospace

Indonesian Aerospace

Indonesian Aerospace (Indonesian: PT. Dirgantara Indonesia (DI)) is an Indonesian aerospace company in Asia involved in aircraft design, development and manufacturing of civilian and military regional commuter aircraft. The company was formerly known as Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN). It was expanded from a research and industrial facility under the Indonesian Air Force, namely Lembaga Industri Penerbangan Nurtanio (LIPNUR).
Established in 1976 as a state owned company, it has developed its capability as aircraft manufacturer and diversified into other area such as Telecommunication, Automotive, Maritime, Information Technology, Oil & Gas, Control & Automation, Military, Simulation Technology, Industrial Turbine, and Engineering Services.
Though aircraft production in Indonesia existed before Independence in 1945, the National Aviation Industry was pioneered in 1946 at Yogyakarta by the formation of Planning and Construction Bureau within The Indonesian Air Force. Wiweko Soepono, Nurtanio Pringgoadisurjo, and J. Sumarsono, opened a simple workshop at Magetan, near Madiun. With basic materials, gliders were designed and built -- Zogling, NWG-1 (Nurtanio Wiweko Glider) among others.
In 1948, a motorized aircraft, WEL-X was built by Wiweko Soepono utilizing a Harley Davidson engine. The small craft was registered as RI-X. This era marked the rise of several aeromodeling club.
The war for independence, however, halted all progress until 1953. In that year, The Experimental Section was organized. Consisting of only 15 personnel, led by Nurtanio Pringgoadisurjo, The team built and tested three prototypes of a single-seat all metal aircraft at Andir Airport (Later renamed to Husein Sastranegara International Airport) in Bandung.
Later on April 24, 1957, The Experimental Section graduated into The Inspection, Trial, and Production Sub-Depot based on Decision Letter of Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff number 68.
Finally in 1958, a light training aircraft prototype named Belalang 89, or Grasshopper 89, was flown. The design was later produced as Belalang 90. 5 Belalang 90 were built and used for military training. On the side note, within the same year, a sport plane, "Kunang 25", was also built and flown.
On August 1, 1960, by the order of Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff, The Aviation Industry Preparation Body was to be formed to envision the birth of the National Aircraft Industry. Within months, the new body, known as LAPIP (Lembaga Persiapan Industri Penerbangan) since December 16, 1961, was actively negotiating for technological transfers and contracts.
LAPIP was able to secured a joint licensing and production contract with Poland. Within the same year, Indonesia was producing PZL-104 Wilga or locally named Gelatik. 44 were produced for agriculture, transport, and aero club purposes.
In 1965, Aircraft Industry Project Implementation Command ) and Independent Aircraft Industry National Company (PN. Industri Pesawat Terbang Berdikari) were formed to expand and formulate specific uses of the young aviation industry.
Within the same timeline, Aviation Study were promoted in the country top universities. One of the 1st schools was founded within The Machine Department of The Engineering Faculty of Institut Teknologi Bandung ITB by Oetarjo Diran and Liem Keng Kie.
In September 1974, Pertamina's Advanced Technology Division signed a license contract with MBB and CASA for producing Bxlkow Bo 105 and CASA C.212 Aviocar.
On April 26, 1976, mandated by Government's Act No. 15, in Jakarta, PT. Industri Pesawat Terbang Nurtanio was officially established with Dr. BJ. Habibie as the President Director. The infrastructure was completed and inaugurated on August 23, 1976 by President Suharto. The new body was a merge between Nurtanio Aviation Industry Body and Pertamina's Advanced Technology Division.
The name Nurtanio is a tribute to Nurtanio Pringgoadisuryo, one of the 1st aviation pioneers in Indonesia, who designed the Sikumbang, an indigenous all metal aircraft.
Initially, IPTN manufactured The NBO 105, under license by MBB â€" Followed by NC 212 (CASA C-212 Aviocar), under license by CASA.
In March 1966, Nurtanio Pringgoadisurjo died in a flight testing accident. The Aviation Industry Preparation Body was then renamed to Nurtanio Aviation Industry Body ).
On October 11, 1985, the name PT. Industri Pesawat Terbang Nurtanio was changed to the PT. Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara or IPTN. Nusantara signifies the Indonesian 17,000 island archipelago.
The exclusion of "Nurtanio" from IPTN was due to some highly questionable accusations. One of the allegations was a personal use of company's letterhead by Nurtanio's family to appropriate some IPTN stocks. None was proven true.
The restructuring focused on new business goals, downsizing and adaptive man-powering according to available workloads, and a pinpoint market targeting along with a concentrated business mission.
The IPTN was re-introduced as PT. Dirgantara Indonesia or Indonesian Aerospace (abbreviated IAe). IAe was officially inaugurated by the President of Indonesia, Abdurrahman Wahid, in Bandung on August 24, 2000.
In July 4, 2011 Indonesia's government said will inject Rp.2 trillion to Indonesian Aerospace to keep the debt-ridden firm afloat with possibility make joint venture with EADS. Before injection the unpaid debt to government value Rp.1.1 trillion ($129 million).
Indonesian Aerospace covers an area of 86,98 ha. The backbone of the production are sustained by 232 high tech machineries and equipments. Apart from these, there are other minor high-tech equipments spread over in various assembly lines, laboratories, and service & maintenance units. They are located mainly in Bandung.

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