BOEING, MAHINDRA DEFENCE SYSTEMS OPEN C-17 TRAINING CENTER FOR IAF

The facility includes weapons systems and loadmaster station trainers that can be employed individually or networked together to rehearse complete missions. Boeing and Mahindra Defence Systems on Friday opened a center in Gurgaon to provide C-17 training services to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The new center will be capable of conducting local and multi-site simulations for added realism and robust

training. Located at the Flight Simulation Techique Centre in Gurgaon, the C-17 training facility will be a full-service location offering instruction to aircrews that operate the 10 C-17 airlifters that Boeing delivered to India in 2014. The center features a complete training solution for C-17 pilots and loadmasters with advanced simulation, courseware and computer-based training to practice the complete range of tasks required for military airlift operations and humanitarian missions, along with other situations such as aerial refueling and emergency procedures. Air Marshal BS Dhanoa, Vice Chief of Air Staff, IAF, inaugurates the Boeing C-17 Simulation Training Center in Gurgaon on July 8 in the presence of Pratyush Kumar, President, Boeing India; S. P. Shukla, Group President, Aerospace & Defence Sector, and Chairman, Mahindra Defence Systems; Gene Cunningham, Vice President, Global Sales, Boeing Defense, Space & Security; and Vinayak Rajagopal, Global Services & Support, Boeing Defense, Space & Security. Besides, the facility includes weapons systems and loadmaster station trainers that can be employed individually or networked together to rehearse complete missions. The simulator’s flight deck supports training with night vision goggles for comprehensive mission training.

President Boeing India Pratyush Kumar said in a statement that the center, in partnership with Mahindra Defence, is another example of the steps the companies are taking to contribute to the building of a holistic aerospace ecosystem in support of Make in India. “This demonstrates our commitment to provide reliable support and services for our customers throughout the life cycle of a product,” said Kumar.

“We are delighted to partner with Boeing in this venture,” said S. P. Shukla, group president, Aerospace & Defence Sector, and chairman, Mahindra Defence Systems. “We have credible expertise in this specialized area of operations and training and we believe this joint endeavor will help deliver the objectives of the Government of India and the Indian Air Force of building capabilities indigenously.”

“Boeing believes that in the coming future, support to aircraft and crews will be a critical element of our partnership to support the IAF’s tactical and operational needs and to create a strong services infrastructure base in India,” said Tim Noonan, vice president of Boeing Training Systems and Government Services. “C-17 operators from the IAF will benefit immensely from the full motion state-of-the-art simulator and associated courseware and computer-based training and provides a real world replication of any possible training scenario,” added Noonan.

The C-17 fleet has been a vital part of the Indian Air Force strategic airlift capability which has successfully conducted relief and humanitarian missions domestically and internationally.