MARIGNANE, France - Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Berhad (BHIC) has signed an agreement to acquire a 30 percent share in the Airbus Helicopters Simulation Center in Malaysia. The simulation facility has been operated by Airbus Helicopters Malaysia since January 2013, and is located at the Malaysia International Aerospace Center. It houses a full-flight simulator for H225 and H225M helicopters. The training site was established as part of Airbus Helicopters' contract to provide 12 H225Ms to the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
In addition to Royal Malaysian Air Force pilots, the simulation center also offers training to H225 and H225M pilots and crews from customers throughout the Asia/Pacific region. During the past two years, it has received trainees from such countries as Australia, Japan, Oman, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.
The Airbus Helicopters Simulation Center trained some 200 pilots and logged 1,940 hours with its full-flight simulator during its first year of operation. 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 Philippe Monteux, Airbus Helicopters Senior Vice President for South East Asia & Pacific. "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."
BHIC is a subsidiary of Boustead Holdings Berhad, a subsidiary of the Armed Forces' Funds (Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera). The Boustead Heavy Industries Group is involved in maritime, defense, and heavy engineering activities, with shipyards located in Lumut, Pulau Pinang, and Langkawi.