JAKARTA, Indonesia — Eventually Indonesia's new $91 million presidential plane arrived Thursday after several months of delay.
The plane was originally scheduled to arrive at the end of 2013, but the date was pushed back because of design customizations requested by the government that would prepare the aircraft for its specific function, according to presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha.
“Some adjustments were needed for the plane… that required time,” Julian said. “The plane has several specifications designed for a presidential aircraft.”
According to Boeing’s website, the BBJ 2 is 39.5 meters long with a total wingspan of 35.8 meters. Aircraft data website airliners.net reported that the plane’s range could reach 10,620 kilometers with eight passengers aboard, or 9,140 kilometers carrying 50 passengers.
Julian said he did not know how many passengers the plane was designed to carry.
When he travels domestically, Yudhoyono usually flies with a retinue of 50 to 60 people in a plane rented from flag carrier Garuda Indonesia. For state visits overseas, the figure has sometimes exceeded 130, until it was cut to under 100 in 2010 for budget reasons.
The Boeing 737-800 plane landed at Halim Perdanakusuma air force base, in the eastern part of Jakarta, to a welcoming ceremony presided over by State Secretary Sudi Silalahi.
The plane, named Republik Indonesia, was to have arrived late last year but was delayed after the government requested customized designs.
Silalahi says the plane will go into official operation after it receives a certificate from the Ministry of Defense.
The purchase of the plane was approved by Parliament in 2010, with the aim of cutting costs by replacing the need to rent jets for presidential trips.
The government has been keen to emphasize the cost-saving benefits of the plane, countering those who believed the plane was an unnecessary expenditure.
“From our calculations, we can save the state budget around Rp 114.2 billion [$10.05 million] every year from the use of the plane for the years ahead,” he said.
Sudi said the livery was chosen by the government and dismissed critics of the ministry’s color scheme. .
“Why does it have to be blue? Ask why does the sky have to be blue,” he said. “Blue is part of camouflage in flight security and it’s the color of the Air Force.”
In the past, Indonesia had used an Ilyushin Il-18, a gift from Soviet Union, and a Sikorsky Helicopter from U.S. President Kennedy as official planes for President Sukarno, the country's first president who died in 1970.
The plane was originally scheduled to arrive at the end of 2013, but the date was pushed back because of design customizations requested by the government that would prepare the aircraft for its specific function, according to presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha.
“Some adjustments were needed for the plane… that required time,” Julian said. “The plane has several specifications designed for a presidential aircraft.”
Indonesia's new Presidential BB Jet 2
According to Boeing’s website, the BBJ 2 is 39.5 meters long with a total wingspan of 35.8 meters. Aircraft data website airliners.net reported that the plane’s range could reach 10,620 kilometers with eight passengers aboard, or 9,140 kilometers carrying 50 passengers.
Julian said he did not know how many passengers the plane was designed to carry.
When he travels domestically, Yudhoyono usually flies with a retinue of 50 to 60 people in a plane rented from flag carrier Garuda Indonesia. For state visits overseas, the figure has sometimes exceeded 130, until it was cut to under 100 in 2010 for budget reasons.
The Boeing 737-800 plane landed at Halim Perdanakusuma air force base, in the eastern part of Jakarta, to a welcoming ceremony presided over by State Secretary Sudi Silalahi.
The plane, named Republik Indonesia, was to have arrived late last year but was delayed after the government requested customized designs.
Silalahi says the plane will go into official operation after it receives a certificate from the Ministry of Defense.
The purchase of the plane was approved by Parliament in 2010, with the aim of cutting costs by replacing the need to rent jets for presidential trips.
The government has been keen to emphasize the cost-saving benefits of the plane, countering those who believed the plane was an unnecessary expenditure.
“From our calculations, we can save the state budget around Rp 114.2 billion [$10.05 million] every year from the use of the plane for the years ahead,” he said.
Sudi said the livery was chosen by the government and dismissed critics of the ministry’s color scheme. .
“Why does it have to be blue? Ask why does the sky have to be blue,” he said. “Blue is part of camouflage in flight security and it’s the color of the Air Force.”
In the past, Indonesia had used an Ilyushin Il-18, a gift from Soviet Union, and a Sikorsky Helicopter from U.S. President Kennedy as official planes for President Sukarno, the country's first president who died in 1970.
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