Eurocopter plans huge investment in pilot training in Malaysia

Eurocopter plans huge investment in pilot training in Malaysia

LA BOURGET Paris, France Tuesday 21st June 2011 : Eurocopter, the helicopter unit of European aerospace giant EADS, is investing millions of euros in a helicopter centre in Malaysia to help train pilots from the Southeast Asian region.

While the size of the investment was not disclosed, it is understood that it will run into double-digit figures.

Eurocopter president and chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Lutz Bertling said this venture marks an expansion of the company's helicopter assembly activities in Malaysia, with a view of capturing a slice of the helicopter services industry business in the region.

He said a long-term lease agreement signed by Eurocopter with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) shows that the Paris-based company is in Malaysia for a long term.

Eurocopter signed the agreement to take up 7,000 square metres of space at the helicopter centre, to be developed on a 10,000-sq-m piece of land next to the cargo facility area, not far from Skypark in Subang.

MAHB managing director (MD) Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid said the company will build the building and sub-lease it to Eurocopter, which will bring in the equipment and simulator for the training of pilots.

He said the lease agreement is for 30 years, with an option to extend it for another 30 years.

Eurocopter will be the main tenant at the centre, while the rest of the area will be taken up by other helicopter companies.

Bashir said the construction of the building will start next month and is expected to be completed by April next year.

Eurocopter Malaysia Sdn Bhd president and CEO Pierre Nardelli said the training of the pilots is expected to start by end-2012.

Some 800 pilots a year will be trained at the centre, he said, adding that the company has received requests for pilot training from other countries in the region.

Eurocopter Malaysia has invested over RM50 million since it started operations in 2002.

Nardelli said the company has also teamed up with the Boustead group to establish a joint-venture company for a maintenance, repair and overhaul centre in the country. Boustead will hold the majority stake in the joint-venture company.


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The Eurocopter Group is a global helicopter manufacturing and support company. It is the largest in the industry in terms of revenues and turbine helicopter deliveries.

Eurocopter was founded in 1992 and its head office is located on the property of Marseille-Provence International Airport in Marignane, France, near Marseille.

Source : Nstp Online