HAL to acquire full stake in HATSOFF

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A view of the HAL building in Bengaluru. HATSOFF is a 50:50 joint venture between HAL and CAE, Canada, and began operations in 2010. | Photo Credit: File photo

The Helicopter Academy to Train by Simulation Flying (HATSOFF), which has been imparting simulator training to military and civil helicopter pilots, will be fully acquired by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

HATSOFF is a 50:50 joint venture between HAL and CAE, Canada, and began operations in 2010.

The Bengaluru-headquartered defence PSU has now entered into an agreement with the latter for the acquisition of its 50% stake in the training institute.

In a regulatory filing dated October 2, 2026, HAL said it had entered into an agreement for the acquisition of a 50% stake in HATSOFF and would acquire 3,84,04,205 equity shares, each with a face value of ₹10, from CAE, Canada.

“Upon transfer of the above-referred shares, HATSOFF Helicopter Training Pvt. Ltd. will become a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of HAL,” it said in the filing.

HAL said it was acquiring the 50% stake in the training institute to gain full management control and streamline decision-making by converting HATSOFF into a wholly owned subsidiary.

It added that HATSOFF’s line of business aligns with HAL’s core business and that it has received administrative approval from the Ministry of Defence’s Department of Defence Production, with due concurrence from the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management under the Ministry of Finance, for the acquisition of CAE’s stake in the joint venture.

The acquisition is expected to be completed within 60 days of signing the share transfer agreement.

HATSOFF, located near HAL’s Bangalore Complex on Old Airport Road, has several firsts to its credit. It is the first facility of its kind in India and is home to the country’s first advanced full-fidelity helicopter simulator certified to Level D by the DGCA and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

It has been providing training for the Bell 412, the Eurocopter Dauphin AS365N3, and civil and military variants of the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter.

HATSOFF’s customers include helicopter pilots from the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, BSF, Pawan Hans Ltd., and Global Vectra. The training institute recorded a turnover of ₹80.95 crore in 2025-26.

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