Helisim will operate the simulation center, which will include the first H145 and H175 Level D simulators in North America. The facility is being built in a partnership with Helisim, a joint venture of Thales and Airbus Helicopters. But Grand Prairie and other surrounding cities likely will experience a noticeable bump in hotel room nights, car rentals and other visitor-related expenditures. The new center likely will create a nominal number of new permanent jobs, a company official said.
Last year, about 1,500 people received Airbus training, according to a company press release. The center will dramatically expand Airbus' ability to train several thousand pilots, mechanics and other workers at a time - potentially two to three times as many as can be handled simultaneously today.
