H.J. Kamath - President, CAE-Macmet

Over the years, Aero India has grown in size and content. What has been the level of participation by your company?

While we have had staff attend Aero India in the past, Aero India 2009 was the first time CAE has exhibited at the show, highlighting a range of simulation-based technology and capability demonstrations for civil and military customers.

What are your business plans in the regime of simulation technology?

CAE is a global provider of integrated training solutions for both the civil aviation and military markets, and our business is well-balanced between products and training services. We are also well diversified geographically with our revenues coming from across the globe. CAE strongly believes that simulationbased training offers a number of advantages, most notably cost advantages, that simply cannot be ignored in today’s uncertain economic and threat environment. We see good opportunities for CAE in India in both military and civil aviation as our company offers the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of simulation products and training services.

What is the status of the programme entitled “Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF)”? What are its salient features?

A joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), HATSOFF will open the first simulator training facility in India for helicopter pilots. The current schedule calls for the new training centre to open in the second half of 2010. As part of this initiative, CAE will design and manufacture a full-mission simulator featuring our revolutionary roll-on/roll-off cockpit design, which enables cockpits representing various helicopter types to be used in the simulator. In partnership with HAL, we’ll develop simulator cockpits for two variants of the HAL-built Dhruv, the Bell 412, and the Eurocopter Dauphin helicopters.

Describe briefly your capability in the field of training for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

CAE-Macmet offers a range of UAV training systems and services. For example, we offer a high-fidelity UAV simulator as an integrated product that combines a vehicle operator station with a synthetic environment to support UAV research, training and operations. The multi-purpose nature of this UAV simulator permits it to be used throughout the UAV life cycle, from operational analysis and platform definition to acquisition and operator/mission training. In addition, CAE is collaborating with Israel Aircraft Industries to develop a comprehensive UAV Mission Training System to support all mission stages, including planning, briefing, execution and debriefing. We see tremendous potential for this type of solution in India, particularly as all branches of the Indian defence forces increase their use of UAV systems.

In what way has the acquisition of Macmet helped progress your strategic and commercial objectives?

In 2007, CAE acquired Macmet Technologies, the leading military simulation company in India. Through CAE-Macmet, we are bringing the full breadth of CAE’s simulation capabilities to the Indian defence market, including technologies such as the Common Database and CAE Medallion-6000 visual system which we demonstrated at Aero India. Through the acquisition of Macmet, CAE is now able to have a closer relationship with the Indian defence forces.

What is the nature and scope of business activity or transaction you have been able to carry out with agencies from India and abroad, private or government, during Aero India 2009?

We had a number of important meetings and discussions during Aero India 2009 that have helped set the stage for further dialogue and potential business opportunities. For example, the board of directors of the HATSOFF joint venture met during Aero India to further finalise plans for the new helicopter training centre in Bangalore. We are encouraged and excited with the opportunities in India, and look forward to making announcements over the coming year.

Are you satisfied with the outcome of your participation in Aero India 2009?

Aero India 2009 was one of the best-attended defence and aerospace events of recent memory. With India representing one of the fastest-growing and accessible defence markets in the world, almost 600 exhibitors from around the world made Aero India the centre of the defence and aerospace world for a week in mid-February. If a company had any aspirations for doing business in India, the Aero India show was a “must attend” event. For CAE, the Aero India show was an excellent opportunity to showcase some of our leading-edge simulation and training technologies as well as meet with existing and potential customers as well as business partners. Certainly, Aero India will be on our event calendar now every two years.