Enstrom Helicopter has begun four weeks of factory training for 36 Royal Thai Army (RTA) pilots and mechanics on its 480B turbine single helicopter at its Menominee, Michigan headquarters. During the period six of the helicopters will handed over to the RTA, which plans to use it as primary training turbine helicopter. Enstrom is represented in Asia by Blake & DeJong Ltd. and in Thailand by M-Landarch. “The pilot and mechanic training are crucial to the success of any program,” said Bayard duPont, Enstrom technical fellow and chief flight instructor.
“The timing worked out well. We are able to support our customers and handle the acceptance of our six turbine training helicopters,” said Thana Dharapak of M-Landarch. The helicopters will be used for training in Menominee before shipping them to Thailand.
Earlier this year, Enstrom received installation approval for the Garmin GTN 750 GPS/nav/comm multifunction display in the 480B. The GTN 750 features graphical flight planning, terrain mapping, air traffic viewing, detailed geo-referenced charting, and satellite weather reporting.
Enstrom has built light single-engine helicopters since 1959. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chongqing General Aviation Industry Group Co., Ltd. (CGAG).