Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad (BHIC) signed an agreement to acquire a 30 percent share in the Airbus Helicopters Simulation Center in Malaysia.
This joint venture agreement was signed by BHIC Chairman YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin and Philippe Monteux, Airbus Helicopters Senior Vice President for South East Asia & Pacific region, in the presence of Malaysian Defence Minister Y.B. Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
The simulation facility – operated by Airbus Helicopters Malaysia since January 2013, and located at the Malaysia International Aerospace Center – houses a full-flight simulator for the H225 and H225M helicopter types, which are 11-ton-category civilian and military twin-engine aircraft in the Super Puma family. The training site was set up as part of Airbus Helicopters’ contract to provide 12 H225M rotorcraft (formerly known as the EC725) to the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
In addition to Royal Malaysian Air Force pilots, the simulation center also offers training to H225/H225M pilots and crews from customers in the military, paramilitary and civil sectors throughout the Asia/Pacific region, and has received trainees from such countries as Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, Oman, Japan and Thailand during the past two years.
The Airbus Helicopters Simulation Center successfully trained some 200 pilots and logged 1,940 hours with the full-flight simulator during its first year of operation. This activity increased by over 40 percent in 2014 to deliver 2,782 simulator hours, training approximately 300 pilots.
“We have enjoyed a very strong and successful partnership with BHIC in an ongoing joint venture that provides maintenance, repair and overhaul services for military helicopters, which has ensured a high availability of the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s H225M fleet,” said Monteux. “With BHIC now entering into the pilot training sector with us as well, we will be able to strengthen our alliance to further develop the local helicopter industry, and at the same time expand our regional portfolios.”
Bernard Josseaux has been appointed to head the Malaysian simulation joint venture and will be the General Manager of the simulation center. He previously was the Technical and Program Director for new investments and training devices at the Helisim Training Academy in Marseille-Provence, France, and comes with 30 years of extensive simulator experience.
“The location of our simulation center in Malaysia has enabled easy access to high quality training for all H225/H225M operators in this region,” explained Josseaux. “The outstanding achievement of the center within its first two years of operation shows that customers appreciate the proximity of this service offering and we are confident of its continued success for many years to come.”
About Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad
Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad is a subsidiary of Boustead Holdings Berhad, a conglomerate listed on the Main Board of Bursa Securities. Boustead Holdings Berhad is a subsidiary of the Armed Forces‘ Funds (Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera). The Boustead Heavy Industries Group is involved in maritime, defence and heavy engineering activities, with shipyards located in Lumut, Pulau Pinang and Langkawi.
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