Sikorsky Aircraft [UTX] and the Brazilian Instituto Tecnologico de Aeronautica (ITA) launched the Collaboration for Rotorocraft Innovation to accelerate the development of rotorcraft engineers in Brazil, the company said on Feb. 12.
The collaboration will involve ITA using Sikorsky funds to supplement its aerospace engineering program to provide additional curriculum related to rotorcraft, staff to instruct the new material, and sponsored scholarships for research related to rotorcraft. The new curriculum is planned to be available in the fall 2015 semester.
Sikorsky is also sponsoring a Rotorcraft Innovation Lab. It is planned to include a fixed-base flight simulator and other equipment to facilitate teaching and research. The lab is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.
ITA, ranked as one of the top engineering universities in Brazil, is a federal government institution providing education and research in aerospace, science, and technology. It is one institute that encompasses the Brazilian General Command for Aerospace Technology (DCTA).
“The demand for in-country rotary wing assets continues to grow with the delivery of new, advanced helicopter systems to Brazil’s armed forces. Sikorsky is pleased to be collaborating with this recognized leader in academia to provide them with a strong background in rotorcraft design,” Antonio Pugas, Sikorsky’s regional executive for Latin America, said in a statement.
“We are thrilled to move forward in working with Sikorsky, one of the world’s leading helicopter companies, to educate our outstanding engineering students, and to contribute to the exciting new developments in vertical flight technologies,” Fernando Toshinori Sakane, vice dean of ITA, said.