Boeing to set up IAF C-17 training facility

The first IAF C-17 Globemaster III after landing at Hindon air base, near New Delhi.

US defense and aviation company Boeing is to set up a training facility for the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet of C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

Vinayak Rajgopal, Director of Global Services and Support at Boeing Defense, Space and Security said that the Request For Proposal (RFP) for the training facility was currently being negotiated with the IAF.

“This will be a center to provide C-17 pilot as well as loadmaster training. That’ll be in the Delhi area. Full motion simulator and the loadmaster simulator. We’re still working with the RFP. Our plan is that because of the need and we’re working very closely with the IAF to target setting that up (concluding contract) this year – that’s our objective,” he said.

Boeing has a stand alone training company which provide a variety of training service including simulators, hardware as well as the training and involves developing the training requirements, course-ware and curriculum along with the customer.

Rajgopal also said that under the performance-based maintenance contract, Boeing has been maintaining 93-95 percent mission capability. “We have been consistently maintaining 93-95 percent mission capability. That basically means when a customer wants an aircraft 95 percent of the time its available to them. In India, all ten aircraft are averaging around the same percentage,” he said

Boeing is also expecting a support contract for the Indian Navy P-8I aircraft fleet this year. “We are closely working with the navy on the support contract and we have worked with them on the concept – what kind of parts support – so we’re waiting for the RFP – hopefully in the near future, we’ll get the RFP – again I’d like to see that happen this year some time,” said Rajgopal.

Significantly, Rajgopal pointed out that of the total life cycle coast of the product, ’30 percent is typically capital – 70 percent is all about service, support, training, engineering support, supply chain management, support equipment, technical data’.