HAL and CAE lay foundation stone for helicopter training centre in Bangalore

Bangalore, India, June 1, 2009 – CAE and HAL held a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for a new helicopter training centre in Bangalore on Monday. The facility – Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF) – is an equally-owned joint venture between HAL and CAE. The centre will be operational by mid-2010.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sanjeev Sahi, Director (HR), HAL, said that this facility would be first of its kind once operational. “HASTSOFF will offer Level-D simulator training to helicopter pilots and maintainers. By partnering with CAE, we are making sure the simulation technology is at the leading edge in order to play a key role in training and producing skilled and mission-ready helicopter crews. HAL is committed to enhancing the safety of helicopter operators in India and to provide a complete service offering for our military and civil clients of the Dhruv helicopter,” Mr. Sahi said.

Mr. Martin Gagné, Chairman of the HATSOFF Board of Directors and CAE’s Group President, Military Simulation Products, Training and Services, said HATSOFF will serve a critical need for enhancing safety and mission readiness. "We are proud to partner with HAL to create a training centre of excellence offering high-quality simulation-based helicopter training programs to pilots and technicians of India and the surrounding region. The centre is an illustration of our commitment to provide high-quality, customized training in locations most convenient to our customers,” Mr. Gagné added.

About HATSOFF
The centre will be equipped with a CAE-built full-mission simulator featuring CAE's revolutionary roll-on/roll-off cockpit design, which enables cockpits representing various helicopter types to be used in the simulator. When fully operational, HATSOFF will be able to train up to 400 helicopter pilots each year. Initially, HATSOFF will offer comprehensive training to civil and military customers operating four helicopter types: the Indian Army/Air Force variant of the HAL-built Dhruv, the civil variant of the Dhruv, the Bell 412 and the Eurocopter Dauphin.

The training centre will feature multimedia classrooms, computer-based training, brief/debrief facilities, and a training management information system. The CAE-built full-mission simulator for HATSOFF will feature a common motion system, vibration platform, and visual display system, and four separate cockpit modules that can be used in the full-mission simulator. When a cockpit is not used in the full-mission simulator, it will be used as a fixed-based flight training device (FTD).  The simulator will be certified to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Indian DGCA Level D, the highest qualification for flight simulators.

About CAE
CAE is a world leader in providing simulation and modelling technologies and integrated training solutions for the civil aviation industry and defence forces around the globe. With annual revenues exceeding C$1.6 billion, CAE employs more than 6,000 people at more than 75 sites and training locations in 20 countries. We have the largest installed base of civil and military full-flight simulators and training devices. Through our global network of 27 civil aviation and military training centres, we train more than 75,000 crewmembers yearly. We also offer modelling and simulation software to various market segments and, through CAE’s professional services division, we assist customers with a wide range of simulation-based needs. www.cae.com

About HAL
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is a premier aeronautical complex of SE Asia, with 19 production divisions and ten R&D centres. HAL's expertise encompasses design, production, repair, overhaul and upgrade of Aircraft, Helicopters, Aero-engines, Accessories, Avionics and Systems. HAL today provides one stop solutions for all the design needs of aircraft & helicopters in airframes, airframe systems, avionics, mission & combat systems using advanced design tools. The 19 manufacturing divisions of HAL are equipped with modern infrastructure with modern plant and machinery for production of fighter aircraft, trainer aircraft and helicopters.   The current workforce is around 35,000 with over 50% having more than a decade of aircraft industry experience.  It has also diversified into manufacture and repair/overhaul of Industrial & Marine Gas Turbine engines, and manufacture of structures for aerospace vehicles. www.hal-india.com

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High resolution photos of the ceremony will be available for download on June 2, 2009 at www.cae.com/photos

CAE contacts

Nathalie Bourque, Vice President, Public Affairs and Global Communications, (514) 734-5788, nathalie.bourque@cae.com

Trade Media: Chris Stellwag, Director, Marketing Communications, Simulation Products and Military Training & Services, (813) 887-1242, chris.stellwag@cae.com

Investor relations: Andrew Arnovitz, Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategy, (514) 734-5760, andrew.arnovitz@cae.com

HAL contacts

Marketing: M Fakruddin, Director (Corporate Planning & Marketing) (+91 80 22867465) dcpm@hal-india.com

Corporate Communications: Anantha Krishnan M., Chief of Media Communications & Official Spokesperson (+91 80 22864934) cmc@hal-india.com