Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has entered into an alliance with Canada-based aircraft simulator maker CAE to set up a helicopter simulator-training centre in Bangalore.

The 50:50 JV quaintly called the Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation of Flying (HATSOFF), is expected to be operational by 2008.

The company plans to offer flight and maintenance training for civilian and military helicopter operations.

CAE will design and manufacture one full-mission simulator featuring a roll-on/roll-off cockpit design, which enables cockpits representing various helicopter types to be used in the simulator.