There could be between 150 and 200 Cessnas with flying clubs and aviation schools in India.

Whiles Cessna planes are bought from US-based Cessna Aircraft Company in Kansas, simulators (Cessna cockpits) for training purposes are manufactured by other companies also.

Since India does not have facilities for overhaul and maintenance of these planes, Mechtronix has also partnered with Gurgaon-based HBE Aviosec Ltd to develop a maintenance support in India.

HBE Aviosec MD Nandy Bhatia said: 'We are glad to be part of Mechtronix developments as their partner in India.

'We have been working closely with Mechtronix over the last few months to establish a local maintenance support base in India for all Mechtronix customers and we look forward at further developing our relationship with them.''

Mechtronix president Xavier Herve said: 'We greatly value Aero Club of India's investment in two Ascent Flight Trainers and HBE Aviosec's support throughout this initiative. We are pleased that they chose Mechtronix as their simulator provider.''

Montreal-based Mechtronix is a division of Mechtronix World Corporation which is one of the top three flight training equipment makers in the world.

(Gurmukh Singh can be contacted at gurmukh.s@ians.in)