A maintenance simulator for the Navy’s P8-I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft will be commissioned at the Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology (NIAT) at the Naval Base here for ab-initio training of technical personnel in maintaining the aircraft the Navy began inducting back in 2013.
The aircraft was extensively used during search operations for missing fishermen in the wake of Cyclone Ockhi.
A complete facility for training P8-I pilots, observers, and ordnance and technical personnel will be commissioned at INS Rajali at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu by 2021, the Navy said in a release.
Deal inked with Boeing
It added that a contract was signed with Boeing, USA, for procurement of training simulator for the aircraft, along with the construction of a 60,000-sq ft civil facility (training, support, and data handling centre) and an on-site comprehensive annual maintenance contract for a period of 10 years.
