Air Deccan ties up with ATR for training centre

Bangalore, Feb 8 (UNI) ATR and Air Deccan today announced the opening of a joint Training Centre in the city to prepare future pilots for operating the ATR fleet of the airline.

The centre would have a Full Flight Trainer (FFT), the latest generation of flight simulators, developed jointly by ATR and Canada-based Mechtronix, according to an Air Deccan release here.

By opening this training centre, which in the future would also be available for training other Indian carriers' pilots, ATR reinforced its presence in India as well as its aim of proximity towards its customers. Air Deccan had booked orders for 36 ATRs, including 30 new ATR 72-500s, since 2005.

ATR CEO Filippo Baganto, commenting on the initiative, said the rationale behind the joint investment in the ATR training facility originated on the basis of multiple orders for ATR aircraft from airlines in India. ''The opening of a joint Training Centre with Air Deccan, one of our largest clients in India, follows the ATR path of continuous improvement of our quality service. An emerging market as India has to prepare high-qualified pilots to keep pace with the exponential growth,'' he added.

Air Deccan Managing Director Captain G R Gopinath said the joint venture represented a milestone of Air Deccan's partnership with ATR. ''With the full flight trainer, we will be able to provide refresher training to our pilots within India.'' The move complemented Air Deccan's aim of giving its passengers the highest standards of performance and quality service as also creating a self sufficient aviation environment in the country.

UNI