Rotorcraft Report: Eurocopter to Add Training Options

TRAINING

Eurocopter is expanding training services for North Sea oil and gas operators, with plans to open a training center in Aberdeen, Scotland in 2010. The facility is to feature an EC225 flight training device (FTD), the first based in the United Kingdom.

The facility will be operated by Eurocopter UK, the re-branded McAlpine Helicopters taken over last year. The FTD will be qualified to European Joint Airworthiness Regulation Flight Simulation Training Device Level 3 standards.

"Our customers have been telling us they need access to training, notably to FTDs," said Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling. "We have listened and we are responding to those needs."

Eurocopter also plans to make two EC135 FTDs operational later this year in Dallas and in Donauworth, Germany. It is considering such devices to support training in the EC175 and AS365 Dauphin, including their installation in Southeast Asia.