Low-cost carrier Air Deccan is planning to set up Airbus A320
and ATR simulators for training of its pilots and hangars in
Bangalore and Chennai for carrying out maintenance work.
"We are going to invest around $25-30 million towards the
A320 and ATR simulator and other infrastructural facilities
including a hangar in Bangalore and Chennai respectively
within the next one year," Deccan Aviation Managing Director
G R Gopinath told newspersons today.
The ATR simulator will be a joint venture while the A320
facility is yet to be decided as negotiations are still
continuing, Gopinath said.
The airline has recruited 150 pilots as part of its expansion
plans as it intends to add 30 A320s and ATR-72 aircraft
within the next two years.
The airline presently has a fleet of five A320s and 13
ATR-42s and operates 106 flights daily.
Deccan Air also has 20 foreign commanders. On the initial
public offering, Gopinath said the issue size could be around
$250-300 million but "there is still time for it." (PTI)
