Thales to sell simulators to Rudradev Aviation

Bangalore, Feb 9 (UNI) French defence, electronics and aerospace major Thales has been chosen by Chennai-based pilot training academy Rudradev Aviation to supply four advanced flight simulators, worth 60 million Dollars.

Two of the flight simulators for Rudradev Aviation would be configured for the European Airbus family (A320 and A330-200) while two others were for the competing US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing (727-800 and the 777-300ER), Rudradev Aviation CEO R Ravi said.

Speaking to reporters at the company's stall in Aero India-2007 here, he said the company would commission the simulators for A320 and 737-800 by October this year and the other two in a year's time.

''We want to train around 800 to 1,000 pilots a year and largely help the country meet the shortage of pilots,'' Mr Ravi, who had earlier in the day signed the contract with Mr Chris Gane, Vice-President of the Thales Simulation Business, said.

Orders have also been placed for formation system trainers and flight management trainers, which were lower level instruction systems, but provide full fidelity simulation in classrooms.

Mr Gane said his company had secured orders for ten full flight simulators in India to emerge as the largest supplier of such equipment to the country. ''We had been exploring to develop our business opportunities in this area for several years,'' he added.

UNI