Eurocopter president and CEO Jean-Francois Bigay has revealed plans to open HeliSim, a French-based helicopter training center with FAA level-D simulators for the AS 332, AS 365 and EC 155 helicopters by year’s end. HeliSim, to be located near Eurocopter’s factory in Marignane, France, is a joint venture between Eurocopter and Thales Training and Simulation. Other customer-support initiatives on tap include a part-inventory network based on hubs in the Americas, Asia and Europe, 50 distributors and agents, 200 traveling tech reps, 30 maintenance centers and 12 subsidiaries on six continents.