• Home
• /
• Aviation

Aerostar to set up pilot training facility in ME

DUBAI - Aerostar Asset Management plans to set up a pilot training centre in the Middle East as it has acquired a full-flight simulator for $30 million to bring the facility to the region, its top official said.

The flight simulator has been purchased from Lufthansa and it would be moved from Berlin to either Dubai or Oman in the coming months.

“The project will take off in January 2012 and the facility will be operational by June,” Ajay Chaukulkar, chief executive officer of Aerostar Asset Management, told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow on Tuesday.

Aerostar Asset Management, promoted by the ETA Star Group and incorporated in 2004 in Sharjah, covers a wide spectrum of specialised aviation activities including engine MRO, aircraft acquisition, supply of material and spares. Aerostar has been participating the Dubai Airshow since 2005.

Chaukulkar said the decision has not yet been made about the location of the project as both the UAE and Oman have conducive environment to set up the facility.

“We may come up with the idea to establish two facilities at two different locations,” he said adding the training device should be joined by simulators for A320 and Boeing 737-600/700/800/900 aircraft in future.

Gulf market exploration

Chaukulkar said Aerostar looks at exploring the new opportunities in India and Middle East to offer engine MRO facilities in the region.

He further added that the Middle East is a growth market for aviation sector and the UAE offers excellent environment for investment.

“Our focus is right now on India and Middle East airlines to offer engine MRO facilities with the acquisition of new equipment.”

“The demand for MRO facilities is going to peak between 2013 and 2015. We are gearing up to meet that demand as the existing facilities are unable to cater to the demand,” he said.

Aerostar has marketing agreement for engine MRO activities with Air India and does the management of material for repairs/overhaul of engines at Air India engine shop. The engines managed cover CF6-50 series, CF6-80 series, CFM56-5 series, V2500 series and PW4000 series.

The company has engine service agreements with Lufthansa Technik AG, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, EGAT, Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies, among others.

“We have plans to develop an engine shop in Mumbai to meet the rising demand in the country,” Chaukulkar said. “Last year, we accomplished 40 orders for various engines and we will hopefully further boost the capacity to 25 more engines in 2011.”

Aircraft acquisition

He said Aerostar invested $60 million in aircraft acquisition last year and it will continue to invest in this segment to further strengthen its position in the market. The company has acquired 14 aircraft, which include B747-200, 300B4, A300-600 and A320.

“We set aside $110 million budget to acquire 12 more planes in 2012. We may emerge as an Airbus customer in the near future,” Chaukulkar said.

muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com