Paris Air Show: Canadian Aviation Electronics to set up flight training institute in India
20 Jun 2007
The NFTI will be set up as a joint venture, at an estimated cost of $25 million, in Gondia, which is the constituency of civil aviation minister, Praful Patel.
Separately, the CAE would work with the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udaan Academy in Rae Bareilly, which is represented by UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, to manage its operations, an official spokesperson said here.
Both these agreements were signed at Paris Air Show in the presence of Patel, who said India would need about 5,000 pilots over the next five years to meet industry needs.
The AAI will hold 49 per cent equity in the joint venture at Gondia, while CAE will hold the balance 51 per cent. The joint venture company, with sophisticated technology and new aircraft, would provide training to civil pilots in fixed and rotary wing aircraft. The institute would produce about 200 pilots a year.
As per the second MoU, CAE will assume responsibility of the management of IGRUA's existing flying school operations within two months and enhance the institute's capacity from the present 40 cadets to 110 per year and eventually to 200.
With annual revenues of over C$1 billion, CAE operates in 19 countries around the world. CAE has sold nearly 700 simulators and training devices to airlines, aircraft manufacturers, training centres and defence forces for air and ground purposes in more than 40 countries. CAE licenses its simulation software to various market segments and has a professional services division assisting customers with a wide range of simulation-based needs.
RK Singh, joint secretary, Govt of India, signed the MOU relating to IGRUA and K Ramalingam, chairman AAI, signed the MOU relating to NFTI, Gondia.
Bob Brown, president, CAE, signed both the MOUs.