HAL plans maintenance base in Ecuador

New Delhi: Upbeat over the encouraging export orders of Advance Light Helicopter - Dhruv, aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has decided to set up a maintenance base for the chopper in Ecuador.
Officials in the state-run defence behemoth said that HAL decided to establish the maintenance base in Ecuador after it received export order of seven Dhruv helicopters from the country.
"The export order from Latin American countries have encouraged us to go for a maintenance base in Ecuador," a top official in the HAL said.
"Winning the bidding to supply the choppers to Ecuador was a great achievement and we want to capitalise on it," he said adding HAL will offer best maintenance and service facilities to Ecuador for the ALH.
He said that the Latin American market has huge potential and HAL was aiming to bag many more export orders from other countries of the region.
"We are eyeing other countries of the region also to sell the Advance Light Helicopter (ALH)," the official said, on the condition of anonymity.
In June this year, HAL made aviation history by concluding the USD 51 million deal with Ecuador.
The deal signed between Ecuador Aviation Authority and HAL envisages the supply of seven helicopters in semi knock-down conditions in a time-frame of 15 months to two years.
With this deal, India has joined a select group of nations with a capability to bid for international contracts for choppers. So far, the helicopter market has been dominated by US, Russia and European companies.
07/09/08 Zee News

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Sep 2008, New Sep 2008