CAE to train pilots in India, to invest 20 M US dollars

Bangalore, Feb 2 (UNI) World leader in simulation and modelling technologies, CAE, part of the Airbus Corporation today announced an investment of 20 million US dollars in setting up an aviation training centre here.

The Centre would be located close to the greenfield Bangalore International Airport, fast coming up at Devanahalli, on the outskirts of the city.

CAE Group President, Innovation and Civil training and services, Jeff Roberts told newsmen here that the Centre would have a capacity to train upto 1000 pilots, when fully operational and would start functioning by the end of this year.

Mr Roberts did not rule out the possibility of a partner joining the initiative, but declined to name the partner.

He said CAE had been serving the Indian market for the last 35 years with both national carriers and from recently private airliners.

Judging by the number of aircraft, the Indian operators have signed, there would be need for 1000 new pilots per year he said adding that approximately 200 aircraft were in operation in the country and 400 would be added to the various fleets in next five years.

With an annual revenue of overone billion Canadian dollar, CAE operated in 19 countries and had sold nearly 700 siumulators and training devices across the globe both to civil and military operations. ''We have over 110 full flight simulators in more than 20 aviation training centres, serving approximately 3500 airlnes, aircraft operators and manufacturers across the globe'' he added.

He said the Indian aviation industry was growing rapidly and faced significant pilot shortage. Establishing this training centre further strengthened CAE's relationship with the Indian customers he said.

He said the Centre would initially offer pilot, cabin crew and maintenance training as well as flight oeprations support on Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737 aircraft. It would also serve the needs of CAE Global Academy, a new training alliance intended to address the global shortage of pilots.

UNI