PT BIBU Signs Contract for Three N219 Amphibious Aircraft from PTDI

BANDUNG — PT BIBU Panji Sakti has moved its plan to procure three N219 amphibious aircraft from a memorandum of understanding (MoU) into a formal purchase contract with PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI).

The contract was signed at PTDI’s office in Bandung on Wednesday (August 26, 2026), marking a new stage in the cooperation between the two companies and strengthening BIBU’s plan to develop an air-sea logistics network for high-value marine commodities.

The three N219 aircraft are planned to support the transportation of fisheries and other marine products from production centers in Bali and eastern Indonesia to domestic and export markets.

PT BIBU President Director Erwanto Sad Adiatmoko Hariwibowo said the signing demonstrated that the company’s plan had entered the implementation phase.

“This is no longer just a plan. With the signing of the purchase contract, we are entering the implementation stage. We want to build a logistics system that connects sea and air transportation so that fisheries products from island regions can move faster to the market,” Erwanto said.

The company views the N219’s operational flexibility as particularly relevant to Indonesia’s archipelagic geography. The aircraft is designed to operate from conventional runways and, in its amphibious configuration, from water surfaces.

Erwanto said faster logistics were essential for marine commodities whose commercial value depends heavily on freshness and delivery time.

“For Indonesia, particularly the eastern regions, speed is an important part of the economic value of marine commodities. Fresh fish, export-quality tuna, live seafood and other high-value marine products cannot afford to wait too long. Therefore, we need transportation that can bring production centers closer to markets,” he said.

N219 to Strengthen Blue Economy Logistics

The three aircraft will be operated by PT BIBU Agro Maritim, a subsidiary of PT BIBU Panji Sakti focused on developing and managing maritime commodity supply chains.

President Director of PT BIBU Agro Maritim Anak Agung Ngurah Alit Kakarsana said the nature of high-value fisheries products makes logistics a critical factor in determining their market value.

He said products such as live seafood and sashimi-grade tuna require rapid transportation from production areas to trading and export hubs.

The N219 is therefore expected to serve as a feeder aircraft connecting fisheries centers with larger transportation networks and broader markets.

The cooperation between BIBU and PTDI itself began in December 2025, when the two companies signed an MoU for the procurement of three N219 aircraft in a cargo configuration at PTDI’s Aircraft Services Hangar in Bandung. PTDI’s official release at the time said the aircraft were being considered as feeder aircraft for collecting high-value marine commodities from various locations before onward transportation to larger aircraft for export routes.

The agreement also included plans to study potential routes, cargo volumes, technical and economic requirements, and operational recommendations before moving into implementation.

Eight months later, the cooperation has now advanced from an initial commitment to a purchase contract.

For PTDI, the latest agreement adds momentum to the domestic commercialization of the N219. In May 2026, PTDI signed a contract to sell four N219 aircraft to PT Mitra Aviasi Perkasa for cargo operations in pioneer regions. PTDI described the deal as its first commercial N219 contract in the domestic market.

PTDI President Director Gita Amperiawan said the growing commercial market was important not only for the sustainability of Indonesia’s aerospace industry but also for demonstrating the practical value of domestically developed aircraft.

“This contract shows that the N219 is not merely a technological product, but is beginning to become a real solution for Indonesia’s connectivity needs. We see significant demand for an aircraft capable of operating in archipelagic regions, remote areas and locations with limited infrastructure,” Gita said.

He added that partnerships with private companies were essential to building a broader aerospace ecosystem involving aircraft manufacturers, operators, users, government institutions and other businesses.

The N219 amphibious configuration is positioned as a flexible platform for Indonesia’s geographic conditions. Besides passenger operations, the aircraft can be configured for cargo and other missions, including medical evacuation, maritime patrol and search-and-rescue operations.

For BIBU, the three aircraft are not being positioned as standalone assets. They form part of a broader blue-economy logistics concept associated with the company’s North Bali International Airport development plan in Kubutambahan, Buleleng.

The company expects the aircraft to help establish an integrated sea-to-air supply chain linking fisheries production areas with markets in Bali, other parts of Indonesia and international destinations.

“We want fishermen and fisheries businesses to gain greater added value. Products with export-quality potential should not lose their value simply because of distribution problems,” Erwanto said.

The latest contract consequently marks a significant shift in the BIBU-PTDI partnership. What began as an MoU in 2025 has progressed into a commercial procurement commitment in 2026, with the three N219 amphibious aircraft expected to become part of a logistics network connecting maritime production centers with high-value markets.

For PTDI, the agreement further strengthens the N219’s role as an Indonesian-made aircraft designed not only for connectivity but also for specific logistical challenges created by the country’s vast archipelagic geography.

Editor – Ray