PTDI And Intercus Develop Air Taxi, Taget Ready To Fly 2028

JAKARTA - PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) is developing a flying taxi project together with PT Intercrus Aero Indonesia (Intercrus). This fleet is targeted to be ready to fly and serve Indonesia by 2028.

Intercrus itself is a domestic start-up company engaged in the research and development of electric vertical Take-Off & Landing (VTOL) aircraft for the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector.

The flying taxi project called Intercrus SOLA is the latest innovation product developed by PTDI and Intercrus, including a group of young Indonesian engineers in it.

President Director of PTDI, Gita Amperiawan, stated that this partnership is part of PTDI's long-term strategy to strengthen the capacity of national aerospace industrial innovation.

"We believe that AAM can be a real solution to answer the challenges of connectivity in urban areas and areas with limited access," he said in an official statement, Monday, June 16.

At the same time, continued Gita, this technology also has the potential for adaptation to support the needs of military operations such as logistics delivery to difficult terrains, reconnaissance missions, to tactical support in high-risk operating areas.

Designed as an electric air vehicle with the VTOL concept, continued Gita, Intercrus SOLA is present as a future air taxi capable of carrying three passengers and one pilot.

Not only that, continued Gita, this platform can also be developed for military missions such as cargo delivery and logistical support with precision and conventional content. The SOLA Intercrus is targeted to be ready to fly and serve Indonesia by 2028.

"With a carrying capacity of up to 360 kg and a distance of 200 km, as well as a low-noise full electric propulsion system, the SOLA Intercrus is designed to be suitable for various operating environments, from dense urban areas to remote areas," he said.

As part of the green aviation initiative, continued Gita, Intercrus SOLA reflects PTDI's new direction in presenting clean energy-based products and supporting the development of the AAM ecosystem in Indonesia.

The collaboration between PTDI and Intercrus includes the development of technology, certification, manufacturing, and the commercialization of SOLA Intercrus.

At the opening of the Indo Defense 2024 Expo & Forum on the first day, June 11, PTDI and Intercrus presented a 1:7 sub-scale prototype demonstration from Intercrus SOLA, called SOLITA. This demonstration shows the basic maneuverability and maneuvering in front of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto.

"Through a partnership with Intercrus, PTDI takes its role in forming a new direction for the national air mobility ecosystem, not only to meet the needs of defense and civil transportation, but also to encourage the birth of innovative technological solutions in the aerospace sector of the future," he explained.