BRENDON / SINGAPORE
Indonesian manufacturer aims to build 19-seater aircraft and light civilian helicopter, possibly as part of joint venture
Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) has identified 19-seat passenger aircraft and light civilian helicopters as new manufacturing projects in a revamped five-year business plan.
Ailing IAe is hoping the new projects, which may be developed jointly with other South-East Asian countries using technology imported from the West, will offset the impending shutdown of IAe's CN212, NAS332 Super Puma, BO105 and Bell 412 production lines. The government-owned company also aims to expand its aerostructures business, initially by pursuing a new contract for Airbus A320 leading edge components, and to continue production of the CN235, with counter-trade sales envisioned to Egypt and several Asian countries.
"The CN235 is still our prime project and within five years we expect 40 aircraft," says new chief executive Edwin Soedarmo. "We plan to build new aircraft, looking at 19 passengers, and we'd like to establish a new helicopter project."
The new plan envisions a 3,400-employee workforce and annual revenues of $150-$200 million, up from the current $120 million. IAe had 9,600 employees before a 10-day shutdown in July and expects the workforce reduction will save $2.5 million a month.
IAe must line up $73 million from banks in the short term to complete existing contracts and another $100 million to pursue its new business plan. IAe is also in talks with several Asian countries over possible equity stakes and joint venture projects.
Soedarmo says the partner countries "would share in building the aircraft and would be committed to buying it". A consortium consisting of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand is "one possibility" under discussion. IAe is also discussing possible aircraft manufacturing projects with China Aviation Industries Corporation II and Poland's PZL and with Russia's Sukhoi about establishing maintenance.
Soedarmo also aims to discuss with Eurocopter licensed production of EC120s or EC135s, but a Eurocopter source says the company does not want to invest further in IAe and a deal with PZL is more likely.
Source: Flight International
