Bird Group expands its presence in the aviation flight training market with ALSIM
‘Bird Consultancy Services signs exclusive marketing agreement with the leading flight simulator manufacturer’

Bangalore, 16 October 2008: Bird Consultancy Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bird Group, today signed an exclusive marketing agreement with ALSIM Simulateurs Company, one of the world’s leading flight training equipment manufacturers. Under the agreement, Bird Consultancy Services will offer Alsim’s simulator equipment and facility set-up to its customers in India and SAARC region. The agreement was signed by Ankur Bhatia, Executive Director, Bird Group and Christine Douguet, Export Sales Manager, ALSIM Simulateurs Company.

As per the terms of the agreement, Bird Consultancy Services will market Alsim in the Indian subcontinent (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan). Alsim's state-of-the-art technology allows instructors to reconfigure FTD's (Flight Training Devices) for different aircraft types and gives flying schools more training options and higher profit margins. Alsim is the first manufacturer to obtain a 'dual' FNPT II/FNPT II MCC certification on their flight trainer equipment. The company’s reconfigurable FTD serve the needs of flight schools, airlines, military organizations and corporate flight departments in over 22 countries. The equipment being offered to customers in the Indian Subcontinent includes Flight and Navigation Procedures trainers complying with JAR STD 3A, FAA AATD, CASA, TC. rules. A large range of products from ab-initio to entering an airline Company is offered as AL50, AL172, AL200-DA42, AL200MCC and the new brand ALX (jet orientated).

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Ankur Bhatia, Executive Director, Bird Group said: "As a successful business conglomerate Bird Group has been a forerunner in the travel, tourism and aviation space for almost four decades with a touch point in every vertical of the industry. Our partnership with Alsim adds a new dimension to our proposition empowering us to offer state-of-the-art simulator equipment to leading flight schools and aviation businesses in the country.”

Commenting on the alliance, Christine DOUGUET, Export Sales Manager, ALSIM Simulateurs Company said, “We are delighted to partner with Bird Consultancy Services for the Indian Subcontinent as we believe this region is among the fastest developing markets for training equipment. We have seen extraordinary success in other emerging markets and we would like to replicate the same in this market by partnering with a strategic local player such as Bird Group”

The flight training industry in India is growing at a rapid pace with increased investments in aviation infrastructure as well as strong support from the government. At present, India has only 250 aircraft but CAPA estimates that there is a market for 500 general aviation aircraft by 2020 & may reach 1000, including replacement of current fleet, presenting a business opportunity of US$ 80 billion.

About Bird Group
The Bird Group was founded in 1971 with the incorporation of Bird Travels. Today, with over 40 years of experience and more than 40 offices supported by over 3500 well trained staff and an impressive clientele of over 500 top corporates, Bird Group can claim to be one of the largest and most diversified entities within the industry in the Indian subcontinent. With businesses as diverse as pioneering back-office processing to being the representative for many of the world’s leading airlines; from managing the backbone of the technological framework for airline IT and distribution to managing crucial relationships of international service providers, Bird Group has ensured that a comprehensive portfolio of service offering has been created to add value to and extensive client base and new ad potential customers. And in recent months, Bird Group has taken bold steps to increasing the value offering while broadening business horizons with new ventures. Today Bird Group’s core business includes Travel Technology, Comprehensive Airline Representation & Management, Hospitality, Passenger Aviation Services & Ground Handling, Cargo Management, Education & Training, Business Consultancy & Luxury Retail. Together, the various companies within these verticals generate a direct revenue in excess of USD 100 Million.
For more information, visit www.bird.in

About ALSIM Simulateurs Company:
Alsim offers you more than just a simulator
Alsim manufactures and sells innovative flight simulators from more than 12 years which are designed for pilot training. Alsim brings to its customers internationally the best global training solutions associated with the best service in order to satisfy current and future evolutions of the transport and training market. Our trainers are reliable, certified and very easy to use. Alsim team is innovative, dynamic and young, very passionate and helpful to its customers. This gives you insurance for the life duration of your teaching tool. We also provide a high level maintenance training to make the user confident with the trainer.

Our main goal is to provide a high quality device with a careful after sale service; we are a medium company able to react on a fast way to answer to our customers needs. Alsim contributes to developing new approaches to training future pilots by offering new solutions adapted to emerging markets such as the ALX simulator.

For more information, visit www.alsim.com

For further information please contact:
Amita Tandan
Senior Consultant Text 100 Public Relations Tel: 011-40612021
E-mail :amitat@text100.co.in

Shruti Malhotra
Assistant Manager-Communication & Corporate Affairs
Tel: +91-30613300
Email:shs@bird.in