Gulf International Services (GIS) has placed an order for a simulator with AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, to support its wholly-owned subsidiary Gulf Helicopter’s (GHC) pilot development training and make its centre a regional hub for the Middle East.
The order for ‘AW189 EASA CS-FSTD(H) FFS Level C simulator’ comes in the wake of GHC’s recently announced purchase of 15 AW189 medium twin-engine helicopters.
The simulator, which would grow the AW189 global training reach across the Middle Eastern region, is to be delivered in offshore oil and gas configuration and is set to expand GHC’s training capability as an AgustaWestland Authorised Training Centre (ATC) and regional hub.
GHC provides training services using an AW139 Level B Full Flight Simulator (FFS) certified by the UK’s CAA as a FFS as per ‘JAR-FSTD H to Level B’ which incorporates the latest technical advancements in flight simulation and state-of-the-art graphic displays.
“This contract for the supply of full-motion flight simulator for the new AgustaWestland helicopter AW189 is the latest of a series of successes achieved by GHC in the area of training in addition to the continuity of the perfect form of cooperation between it and AgustaWestland over the years,” Mohamed al-Mohannadi, GHC CEO, said.
However, GIS did not specify the size of the deal.
GHC is a major AW139 operator and will receive the first two of its 15 AW189 aircraft this year to support the company’s offshore oil and gas operations.
This planned continued growth of GHC as an AgustaWestland ATC further cements the strong relationship between the two companies, which will now jointly offer AW139 and AW189 pilot training services to the market, strengthening the growing global support and training footprint for AgustaWestland aircraft, GIS said in a communiqué to the Qatar Exchange.
“Delivering high quality training services, GHC is already a highly respected provider of training in the Middle East region, which is an important market for AgustaWestland and the AW189,” according to John Ponsonby, Senior Vice President Global Customer Support and Training, AgustaWestland.
GHC has achieved a prominent place for itself as a provider of helicopter pilots training services for the AW139 in the Middle East and even exceeded the reach to countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, al-Mohannadi said.
The AW189 was designed in response to the growing market demand for a versatile, affordable, multi-role medium helicopter. The new 8-tonne class, twin engine helicopter is optimised for long range missions and orders for 130 helicopters, including options and framework contracts have been placed, making it the outright market leader in its class.