DCA director-general Chaisak Angkasuwan said that during a visit last week a Bell Helicopter executive asked him about the possibility of building its regional helicopter repair station and training centre in Thailand.

"The DCA has asked the company to submit a proposal," he said.

 Chaisak said the company also approached the DCA to use Don Muang Airport for its helicopter repair and training centre after aviation services move to Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

He said the reason Bell was considering Thailand as the site of its regional hub was that there are 400 Bell helicopters in the region but no repair station and training centre.

The DCA will ask the Transport Ministry to consider the request, Chaisak said.

There are many commercial airports in the provinces under the responsibility of the DCA that are not fully utilised, such as the one in Nakhon Ratchasima, he added.

If Bell Helicopter is interested in this airport, the DCA might offer it a lowerthanstandard rental fee, Chaisak said.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation