BAeHAL ties up with Piper Group

BAeHAL Software, a joint venture between UK-based BAE Systems and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), will soon make a headway into the technical documentation market for the aerospace industry.

As a step in this regard, the company has announced the opening of a centre of excellence (CoE) for Piper Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BAE Systems that delivers data management solution and technical information services to aerospace companies.

Initially, the CoE will focus on providing technical illustration and technical authoring service for Airbus, a client of Piper. The centre will have a team of 30 people, which will be ramped up to 120 over a period of three years.

Piper is also planning to bring more technical documentation works from its other global clients to BAeHAL, in future. Technical experts of Piper will be located at the centre to impart project-specific training to BAeHAL engineers.

"Technical documentation for aerospace industries is an emerging area. We have done a lot of documentation work for Armed forces in projects like advanced light helicopter (ALH), light combat aircraft (LCA), intermediate jet trainer (IJT). By working with Piper, we will now have exposure to technical documentation in the civilian aerospace industry," said C Subramanian, chief executive officer, BAeHAL Software.

BAeHAL, which achieved a sale turnover of Rs 35 crore in the fiscal 2006, is targeting Rs 50 crore in the fiscal 2006. Subramanian said the CoE for the Piper Group was expected to generate a revenue of Rs 3 crore in the first year and Rs 12 crore in next two years after that.

Globally, Piper has three centres of excellence in Germany, France and Spain. Paul Phelpstead, business manager, Piper Group, said the requirement of opening a CoE in India was mainly driven by the customers' requirements.

"Besides, competition is extremely fair in technical documentation in the UK," he added.

Piper, which has a turnover of about $57 million, has clients such as Airbus, Rolls & Royce, Smiths' Aerospace among others.