Page 7 - LIMA 2023 - DAY 2 | DAILY NEWS

PTDI PROMOTES NEW OFFERING

Indonesia’s Infoglobal and the nation’s The integration of Infoglobal’s MSA mis-
state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT sion system will enable N-219 to conduct
Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) are pro- maritime patrol, both by itself or by work-
moting the N219 Maritime Surveillance ing together with other ships since it will
Trainer Aircraft (MSTA) at Langkawi. The give the aircraft the capability to share its
N219 MSTA features Infoglobal’s Maritime detection data.
Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) mission system
with PTDI’s N-219 aircraft. The N-219 is a utility aircraft designed and
built by PTDI based on CASA C-212 Aviocar.
The N-219 had its maiden flight in 2017 and
The N219 MSTA is being promoted at the is scheduled to enter mass production in
show as an advanced trainer aircraft with 2022. With a capacity for 19 passengers,
short field capability and one that has been the aircraft is designed to be operated on
modified and equipped to perform in the rough and semi-prepared runways com-
role of a Maritime Surveillance Trainer monly found in Indonesia’s remote regions.
Aircraft. The N219 MSTA features a tacti- Powered with two Pratt & Whitney Canada
cal datalink for ISR, mission consoles, an PT6A-42 turboprop engines, delivering
Automatic Identification System (AIS), a 630 kW (850 shp) each, the aircraft has a
hand-held Nikon AF-S camera, Gabbiano 390 km/h maximum speed and 310 km/h
TS-80 ultra lightweight radar and a low light economical cruising speed with a 890 km
camera. maximum range under full load.

AIR ASIA

SHOWS-OFF

UAM

AMBITIONS

Air Asia is showcasing its future plans in
the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) space with
Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 electric aircraft.
On display at the show is a model of a VX4
in Air Asia livery, along with a concept ver-
tiport. A company official told Daily News
that Air Asia was studying opportunities
that could arise from the need to transport
passengers who need to get to the airport,
though much work yet needed to be done
with regards to setting up the infrastruc-
ture for such operations. Air Asia had
announced an order with aircraft lessor projected to be capable of transporting a operational execution and its pathway to
Avolon in February 2022 for the lease of pilot and up to four passengers, traveling certification allowing for a lean cost struc-
a minimum of 100 VX4s. Vertical’s VX4 distances of up to 100 miles, and achiev- ture and enabling production at scale.
prototype has successfully undertaken ing a cruise speed of 150 miles per hour, Vertical has a leading pre-order book from
piloted flight tests and it is now in the while producing minimal noise and zero a diverse global customer base, creating
next stages of the flight test programme, operating emissions. The VX4 is expected multiple potential near term and actionable
which is expected to reach higher altitudes to be near silent when in flight, and with routes to market. Customers include air-
and speeds, as well as demonstrating the a low cost per passenger mile, it will be lines, aircraft lessors, helicopter operators
and tourism groups, including American
transition from vertical to horizontal flight. an affordable option for passengers with a Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Avolon, Bristow,
Avolon, the world’s second largest aircraft cost at a slight premium to a taxi. Vertical’s Marubeni, Iberojet and FLYINGGROUP,
lessor, had pre-ordered 500 VX4s from top-tier partner ecosystem, including Rolls- as well as Japan Airlines (JAL), Gol, Air
Vertical in June 2021 to place with its global Royce, Honeywell Aerospace, Leonardo Greenland, Gozen Holding and AirAsia,
airline customers. Vertical’s VX4 eVTOL is and GKN Aerospace, is expected to de-risk through Avolon’s VX4 placements.

LIMA 2023 MAY-24-2023 7