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Junior Reporters Get a Glimpse into the World of Aerospace

HI, Medi friends!

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Nathanael Darius Surya Manrangnuang. You can call me Dar or Darius. Well, I am going to tell you about the activities and interesting things during the interview process with PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI). Please read carefully!

This interview session took place at one of the leading aircraft industries in Indonesia, and even one of the largest aircraft industries in Southeast Asia, namely PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI). I was very happy. Imagine being able to see the types of aircraft developed by PTDI, and even meeting the directors and the people running the PTDI industry to this day!

PTDI Factory Visit

Thank God, on that day I was selected as a Repcil (Junior Reporter) and got the opportunity to join a factory visit to PTDI.

Try to calculate! What is the percentage of me and 49 other participants selected from 127 applicants?

This factory visit started with a briefing to us, the Junior Reporters, so we would know what activities were going to be carried out. We were also given snacks, a vest, a hat, a pen, and paper to take notes on what was presented.

The 50 of us were then divided into three groups of about 17 people each. This division was made so that when riding the Bandros, the vehicle wouldn't be overly crowded and cramped.

We got onto the Bandros and headed to the Mockup Room or Nurtanio Building. There, we learned about the types of aircraft manufactured by PTDI, such as the NC212i and CN235-220, as well as an aircraft currently in development, the N219. Truly, such an experience made me even more excited!

It was also explained to us that each aircraft has a different function. Some are used for evacuating disaster victims, transporting cargo, conducting air drops, carrying out defense missions, and carrying passengers.

Finally, we took a group photo in the Mockup Room and went to the next location. We arrived at the FAL (Final Assembly Line). FAL is the place where aircraft components are assembled into a complete airplane according to its intended function. The aircraft must be fully assembled and meet quality standards before proceeding to the testing phase.

The Interview Session

The interview session began. We met with Andrie, a long-serving PTDI employee who works as a supervisor. My group members and I asked a few questions.

"What made you want to work in an aircraft industry like PT Dirgantara Indonesia?"

He shared that when he was a teenager, he was inspired by one of Indonesia's best presidents, B.J. Habibie. Since childhood, he also frequently saw airplanes, which sparked his interest in machinery.

He studied hard in the field of mechanical engineering until he was eventually accepted as a supervisor at PTDI.

In the beginning of his career, he often faced many challenges. Aircraft quality must always be maintained, while poor coordination and communication initially made it difficult to carry out his duties as a supervisor.

However, over time he became accustomed to dealing with problems and viewed them as part of the job. But according to him, being used to problems doesn't mean we should take them lightly, no matter how small.

After the interview session with the PTDI employee, we returned to the B.J. Habibie Auditorium.

Interviewing the Directors

Finally, after waiting quite a long time, we reached the main interview session: interviewing PTDI's directors.

The directors of PTDI arrived with big smiles before sitting on the provided sofas.

Mrs. Dihas, Director of Finance and Human Resources, introduced herself and explained her duties. Her responsibilities include ensuring employees feel comfortable working at PTDI, managing finances, and providing guidance to employees.

Mrs. Dihas also explained that becoming a director requires strong core values, such as discipline, high commitment, and honesty. She mentioned that we must cultivate independence so these values can be applied more easily in daily life.

Next was the Director of Production, Mr. Dena. He explained that his duty as Director of Production is to ensure all aircraft products manufactured by PTDI meet safety standards.

He also ensures smooth communication and coordination across teams, making sure all PTDI employees—such as mechanical and electronic technicians—can collaborate without conflict.

Finally, the interview session began.

Malik, one of the Junior Reporter participants, asked a question. Mr. Dena answered and explained that the N219, one of PTDI's proudest achievements, is an aircraft designed in-house by PTDI and serves as a point of national pride for Indonesia.

The N219 is relatively small, with a capacity of 19 passengers. This size differs from large commercial airliners seen at major airports, such as the Boeing 747, which can carry hundreds of passengers.

Nevertheless, the N219 offers key advantages, including the ability to land on short runways of around 700 meters. Mr. Dena also mentioned that the N219 will feature amphibious capabilities to operate on water.

After a few more questions, the interview session with Mr. Dena and Mrs. Dihas came to an end.

Thank you, Mr. Dena and Mrs. Dihas!

We were truly grateful for the opportunity to visit an aerospace company like PT Dirgantara Indonesia. Although our time at PTDI was brief, we learned valuable lessons and advice—especially regarding how PTDI operates and continues to develop aircraft like the NC212i, CN235-220, and the director's highlight, the N219.

Through this activity, my aspiration to become a mechanical engineer has grown even stronger, motivating me to study hard and achieve my goals in the future.

Thank you, PT Dirgantara Indonesia... and fly high with PTDI!

Thank you as well, Media Indonesia!

Source: https://mediaindonesia.com/humaniora/926902/reporter-cilik-mengintip-dunia-dirgantara