Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Malaysia is set to be the only country in Southeast Asia and Australasia to host Eurocopter's helicopter simulator for the EC225 Super Puma and EC725 Cougar models.

The coveted simulator centre, the fifth in the world, will provide training for pilots of both the civilian and military versions of the helicopters in Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

It is learnt that Malaysia was chosen over Singapore for the advanced training facility.

Currently, simulation training for the EC225 and EC725 is offered at Eurocopter's HELISIM Training Academy in Marignane, France.

There are also similar centres being set up in Aberdeen (the United Kingdom), Dallas (the United States) and Brazil.

The centre in Malaysia will be ready in 2011.

Eurocopter chief executive officer Lutz Bertling said the centre in Malaysia would ensure that the company could offer full flight simulators, flight training devices and training aids all over the world.

Bertling said this in a statement issued on Sunday at the Heli-Expo 2009 in Anaheim, the United States.

The new Eurocopter helicopter simulator and training centre in Malaysia is said to be based on the company's HELISIM Training Academy in Marignane.

During a visit by the New Straits Times in May last year, the expansive French facility was fully booked by helicopter pilots coming from all over the world, including Malaysia.

Malaysian pilots will benefit most from the local centre as pilots have to stay for weeks for the simulator training.

Eurocopter Malaysia holds the largest portion of the civilian helicopter market in Malaysia with a 50 per cent share.

It operates from Subang, Miri and Kerteh.

Incorporated in August 2002, Eurocopter Malaysia is the only helicopter manufacturer with its own Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) service centre in the country.