REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TANGERANG -- Former Indonesian president B.J. Habibie explained details about the Regio Prop 80 aircraft, known as R80, to President Joko Widodo at the Science and Technology Development and Research Center (Pustpitek) in Serpong, South Tangerang, Banten.
"I directly got information about R80 from Habibie, who pointed out that the Regio Prop 80 aircraft is appropriate for Indonesia. The passenger capacity of R80 is ideal for Indonesia. The nation has several remote islands," President Widodo stated here on Monday.
On the occasion, Habibie highlighted the advantages of R80 to President Joko Widodo.
The R80, a commercial regional jet, is manufactured by privately owned domestic aircraft maker, PT Regio Aviasi Industri (RAI).
According to Habibie, the new generation aircraft has the capacity to carry 80 passengers at high speed.
The R80 offers reliability, lowest operating costs, advanced avionics system, comfort for passengers, and is environmentally friendly.
Currently, R80 has been ordered by several airlines in the country: 100 aircraft by Nam Air (a subsidiary of Sriwijaya Air), 25 aircraft by Kalstar, and 20 aircraft by Trigana Air.
Until the end of March 2015, the preliminary design has been completed by PT Regio Aviasi Industry (RAI), which is assisted by PT Dirgantara Indonesia and the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).
On the same occasion, President Jokowi visited several locations in Pustpitek, South Tangerang, Banten.
Jokowi also observed a flight demonstration of a drone over Pustpitek. The drone took off from a 250-meter runway at the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) building.
The drone can be airborne for a period of four hours at a maximum height of six thousand feet.
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