Aviation India: Careers

New Delhi: CFM International is in the initial stages of setting up an Aircraft Engine Training School in India to provide advanced maintenance courses for the CFM56 engine that powers Boeing 737s and a majority of Airbus A320 series aircraft. The school -- its fourth after ones in the U.S, Europe and China -- will be based on the same model CFM used to set up the school in China a decade ago.
"We bring in the hardware instructors and the training material for the school and our partner supplies the logistics, like the building and accommodation," said Paul-Andre Chevrin, vice president, CFM International India. The company, in talks with a few Indian companies, expects to announce the joint venture soon.
As in China, the company plans to train around 500 Indian students per year, and Chevrin expects this figure to increase steadily given the explosion in the aviation market.
"The purpose of the training center for mechanics and engineers is to give them hands-on experience. Presently, they (airlines) steal mechanics from each other," said Chevrin.
CFM expects the school to open by mid-2008.
While Chevrin did not indicate the amount to be invested, he said CFM would bring in two engines fully dedicated to training.
23/02/07 Neelam Mathews/Aviation Week, US