Bell plans helicopter academy

NEW DELHI: US copter major Bell Helicopter is planning to set up a training academy in India. ”We are in talks with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to work on a project to set up a Bell training academy in India,” Bell Helicopter CEO Michael A Redenbaugh told ET. The centre will be training copter pilots, maintenance engineers and support crew.

Bell’s academy plan is significant since the Indian aviation industry has witnessed a significant boom in the helicopter segment too. The proposed school will help in overcoming the shortage of qualified helicopter pilots.

It may also catalyse India’s demand for helicopters from players like Bell Helicopter, Eurocopter, Agusta, Sikorsky and McDonnell Douglas. The US-based company sees the scope of setting up a training academy as further expression of its long-term commitment to the Indian market.

Bell Helicopter is a leading player in providing copters to India for defence and commercial players. ”India has reasonable numbers of civilian and defence helicopters, but there is no specific academy that trains copter pilots.

The present boom in the Indian aviation industry and the consequent shortage of pilots provides a good opportunity to invest in a flying academy,” Mr Redenbaugh said.

The firm, which has bagged a $20-m order from India in the past one year, is bullish on the Indian helicopter services market. Its order book from India has doubled in ’06 as compared to ’05.

Bell has also been selling copters to companies like Reliance and Global Vectra for offshore oil and gas projects; and airlines such as Air Deccan.

At present, India has 76 Bell Helicopters that are being used for commercial purposes out of a total of 140, Mr Redenbaugh said. India has only one school for helicopter training run by Hindustan Aeronautics, but staff trained here specialise in defence operations. Bell, however, says the proposed academy will produce personnel mainly for the Indian airline industry.