Indra to startup an International Aeronautics Training Centre near to El Prat airport

Indra, the premier IT company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe, will startup an International Aeronautics Training Centre nearby El Prat airport in Barcelona. The new centre will be equipped with state-of-the-art simulators. The advanced technological features of these systems will be prepared to train the world's premier airlines and will complement the learning process of new pilots.

The Minister for Territory and Sustainability of Catalonia, Lluis Recoder; Mayor of El Prat, Lluis Tejedor; Indra's General Director, Carlos Suárez and Indra's Simulation Director José Vicente Rolo, signed on Thursday, January 26th an Protocol of Intentions to startup the new centre, in the presence of Indra's Chairman, Javier Monzón and President of the Government of Catalonia, Artur Mas. The signature took place at the Palau de la Generalitat.

With an advantageous location near the airport, pilots could engage in training at the centre during stopovers or transfers to another destinations. The new centre will also complement the activities of pilot training schools (FTO). Indra will have the support of GTA to exploit the centre.

The facilities will be equipped with state-of-the-art simulators (level D) developed by Indra. This qualification is granted by the State Agency for Air Security (AESA) after evaluating the systems in compliance with the international legislation and certifies that the training systems replicate with maximum accuracy the behaviour of the real aircraft. Level D means that every hour in training with the simulator counts as an hour flying a real aircraft.

The project envisages starting operations with an Airbus 320 simulator, one of the most commercially successful aircrafts widely used by airlines across the globe. The centre will grow progressively with new simulators, incorporating the models demanded by airlines.

Nowadays, active pilots must undergo a certain number of simulation flight hours periodically. Airlines usually demand candidates fulfill hours in simulators of the same model of the aircraft they will pilot.

Simulators offer the possibility to train in emergency situations which are impossible to be reproduced in a real aircraft. With simulators the pilot will be able to train in adverse weather conditions, in daylight or at night, the systems can simulate system failures or they can try emergency landing; situations which demand following the established protocols. Besides this, pilots can get familiar with takeoffs and landings in any airport of the world, as the scenarios are accurately reproduced in these systems.

Indra in Civil Aeronautics Simulation

Indra is one of the main simulator manufacturers worldwide. The company has delivered more than 200 simulators in 19 countries and 51 clients. It has started up training centres for pilots, air traffic controllers and machinery operators. Indra's simulators have provided over 700,000 training hours.

The company has developed the simulators for the ATR 72 and A320, both level D, and currently in service at the company's facilities in San Fernando de Henares. Besides this, it developed other two simulators of A320 now being delivered to Hainan Airlines.

It also maintains a growing presence in civil helicopter simulation. The company closed several agreements with Eurocopter for the provision of simulators of the EC225 transport helicopter to its training centre of Aberdeen (Scotland). This aircraft is employed in the transport of people and materials to the new maritime platforms in the North Sea. It also developed and delivered simulators of the AS350 for police surveillance, EC135 and EC145 for Eurocopter's training centre in Dallas, among other references.

On the other hand, Indra equipped the training centre for air traffic controllers of Senasa (Sociedad para las Enseñanzas Aeronáuticas Civiles) in Barajas, Madrid. This is one of the largest and most advanced training centres at world scale.

Indra is the premier Information Technology company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe and Latin America. It is ranked as the second European company in its sector according to investment in R&D with over € 500 M during the last three years. In 2010 revenues reached € 2,557 M and the international market already accounts for a 44%. The company employs more than 35,000 professionals and has clients in more than 110 countries.