Eurocopter to set up training institute in India

New Delhi: Sensing an opportunity in the shortage of qualified pilots to fly helicopters, European helicopter maker Eurocopter plans to set up a pilot training facility in India.
“We are already in talks with some Indian entities for setting up a training institute where we can provide pilots for the helicopters,” Senior Vice-President (Asia-Pacific) of Eurocopter Norbert Ducrot said here on Monday.
Refusing to divulge the name of the Indian companies, he said the move was being taken in the wake of less number of pilots being trained to fly the helicopters in the country.
Ducrot said the institute will have all the facilities including the training the pilots on simulators.
The Eurocopter team, which is here to attend the Air Show at Hyderabad, said their company was looking at three segments of civilian market in India — Emergency Medical services, off-shore and corporate world. There were as many as one dozen firm orders from corporates in the country.
13/10/08 PTI/The Hindu