ENS

Bangalore, Sep 27: Navratna PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Wednesday announced that it would set up a helicopter simulator training centre in Bangalore.

The aircraft manufacturer is setting up a joint venture company, Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF), in partnership with Canadian firm CAE and signed an agreement to this effect on Wednesday.

The training centre is expected to begin operations in late 2008, offering both civil and military helicopter pilot and maintenance training services.

‘‘Our objective is to serve the fast-growing civil and military aerospace industry in India and become a globally competitive aerospace company,’’ HAL Chairman Ashok K. Baweja said, adding that HAL chose CAE as it was a leader in helicopter simulation and training.

As part of the joint venture, CAE will design and manufacture one full-mission simulator featuring CAE’s roll-on/roll-off cockpit design, which enables cockpits representing various helicopter types to be used in the simulator.

According to a HAL press release, the two companies are planning to provide HATSOFF with cockpits for the three variants of the HAL-built Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv (one cockpit each for the Indian Army/Air Force glass cockpit Dhruv, Indian Navy Dhruv, and civil variant of the Dhruv), as well as cockpits for the Bell 412 and Eurocopter Dauphin helicopters.

Other military and civil helicopter platforms will be added as the market develops, it added.