Eurocopter Malaysia and the Malaysia International Aerospace Centre (MIAC) have agreed to build a 70 million ringgit ($20.6 million) helicopter centre at Kuala Lumpur's Subang airport.
The facility, due for completion in 2011 and to be constructed on 7ha (17 acres) of land, will hold Malaysia's first heliport and helicopter full-flight simulator.
It will also be equipped with maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities for helicopters, hangars and other helicopter services, says Zulkifli Sidek, a MIAC official.
The centre's heliport will take up 2.5ha of land, and will be designed to accommodate the biggest of the Eurocopter fleet, says Sidek.
Raziff Abdul Hamid, director of corporate and strategy for Eurocopter Malaysia, says the heliport will be "quite similar" to Eurocopter's facility in Donauworth, Germany. The simulator will support the EC227/725, and Eurocopter hopes to begin training by the end of 2011, he adds.
Eurocopter Malaysia has signed on to be the centre's main tenant and will move from its current base at Subang airport's terminal two.
Others who will have space in the centre are AgustaWestland, West Star Aviation, Solaire Helicopters, MHS Aviation and other private helicopter owners, says Sidek.
The centre will "provide an environment that is conducive to the development of the helicopter industry in Malaysia," say Eurocopter Malaysia and MIAC in a statement.
Eurocopter Malaysia will also be able to expand and support the future growth of the industry and serve its growing customer base better with a bigger and improved facility, it adds.
MIAC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airports Holdings.
Source: Flight International
