On Friday December 21, 2018, located at Husein Sastranegara Airport, Jl. Pajajaran No. 154 Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, the prototype of the second N219 aircraft by the nation's children conducted a flight test for the first time. The prototype flight test for the second plane N219 was witnessed by the Director of PTDI, Elfien Goentoro and the entire PTDI Board of Directors.

Captain Esther Gayatri Saleh, Chief Test Pilot of PTDI as Pilot In Command (PIC), and Captain Ervan Gustanto as First Officer (FO) who conducted prototype flight testing of the second N219 aircraft for the first time. In addition to Pilot In Command and First Officer, in the prototype the first aircraft N219 will participate in Ir. Yustinus Kus Wardana and Ir. Adriwiyanto is a Flight Test Engineer (FTE), to ensure that each flight testing stage is carried out properly and correctly and is guaranteed an element of safety.

The prototype of the second plane N219 took off from the Husein Sastranegara Airport Platform at 07.50 West Indonesia Time, the flight time was about 20 minutes with a route above the Saguling Reservoir, West Bandung Regency towards Sukabumi, then landed well at 08.10 at the Husein Sastranegara Airport.

Captain Esther Gayatri Saleh, Pilot In Command (PIC) expressed his pride in the preparation of the entire team, making him confident to be able to fly the prototype of the second aircraft N219 first and feel the difference when flying the prototype of the second plane N219.

"Much better than the first because we have data from the first. Of course there is a greater improvement here, one of which is flight control improvement , "explained Captain Esther Gayatri Saleh.

The Head of PTDI Technology Center Division, Palmana Banandhi stated that PTDI used two aircraft prototypes to accelerate the flight test certification process, in which two aircraft had their respective missions.

The prototype of the first aircraft N219 Nurtanio will undergo a series of tests, namely completing performance and structure test testing , while the prototype of the second N219 Nurtanio aircraft will be used for system test testing , such as avionic systems, electrical systems, flight control and propulsion .

"With the use of two prototypes as a vehicle for flight test certification, all flight test activities can be optimized because they are not only based on one plane. This makes it possible to achieve a Certified Type in 2019, "Palmana Banandhi explained.

PTDI will also prepare 2 (two) other prototypes to be used as a vehicle for testing fatigue tests and static tests. PTDI will conduct 3000 cycle fatigue tests to be able to get a Certified Type in 2019.

After obtaining a Certificate Type , the serial production stage begins to get the Production Certificate , so that in 2019, the first aircraft N219 will be ready and fit to enter the market. There are several candidates for Launch Customer , one of which is the North Kalimantan Regional Government.

At the beginning of production 6 units of N219 will be made using the production capacity currently available, henceforth PTDI will upgrade production facilities with an automation system in manufacturing , so that the delivery capability will continue to increase gradually to reach 36 units per year.

The N219 Nurtanio aircraft is expected to be an integrated, effective and efficient logistics distribution solution so that it can improve people's welfare. The N219 Nurtanio aircraft was also developed to support the air bridge program such as Presidential Regulation number 70 of 2017 concerning "Implementation of Public Service Obligations for the Transport of Goods From and To Disadvantaged, Remote, Outermost, and Border Areas".

N219 Nurtanio aircraft are also very relevant to natural conditions in Indonesia, which are generally hilly and have many mountains. The N219 Nurtanio plane has a maximum speed of 210 knots, and the lowest speed reaches 59 knots, meaning that the speed is quite low but still can be controlled, this is very important especially when entering the cliffs, between mountains that need aircraft with maneuverability low speed.