Türkiye approves first Boeing 737NG pilot training simulator built by Havelsan for SunExpress.

Havelsan delivered a Boeing 737 Next Generation Flight Training Device Level 2 to SunExpress after receiving certification from Türkiye’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, marking a first within Türkiye.

Havelsan delivered a Boeing 737 Next Generation Flight Training Device Level 2 to SunExpress after receiving FNPT II MCC and FTD Level 2 certification from Türkiye’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The simulator, which is the first device of this category certified within Türkiye, enables Boeing 737NG crew training, including procedures, systems operation, and multi-crew coordination inside the airline training center in Antalya.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The simulator delivered by Havelsan in Antalya is a Flight Training Device Level 2 (FTD Level 2), which is a certified ground-based training simulator that replicates the cockpit configuration, systems behavior, and flight dynamics of a specific aircraft type. (Picture source: Havelsan)

On March 2, 2026, the Turkish company Havelsan announced that its domestically developed Boeing 737 Next Generation Flight Training Device Level 2 (FTD Level 2) simulator received dual certification from Türkiye’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation and was delivered to SunExpress’s training center in Antalya for operational use. The FTD Level 2 obtained both FNPT II MCC and FTD Level 2 qualifications, enabling its use for Boeing 737NG pilot training at the airline’s internal training infrastructure. The certification marks the first instance of a Turkish-manufactured Flight Training Device Level 2 receiving such approval and the first device of this category certified within Türkiye. The simulator is part of Havelsan’s Starline Flight Simulation Training Device portfolio under the designation Starline Vega FTD Level 2 and complements the company’s existing full flight simulator products.

The delivery places the system directly inside the SunExpress training environment, where Boeing 737NG crews can conduct procedural and systems training. The aircraft type replicated by the device, the 737-800, belongs to the Boeing 737 Next Generation family introduced in the late 1990s, which remains one of the most widely operated narrow-body jetliners worldwide. The Boeing 737 Next Generation (737NG) family represents the third generation of the Boeing 737 program and includes the -600, -700, -800, and -900 variants. Development of the series began after airlines sought improved performance compared with the Boeing 737 Classic, and the Next Generation program was launched by Boeing on November 17, 1993.

The first aircraft, a 737-700, rolled out on December 8, 1996, and conducted its first flight on February 9, 1997, before entering service on December 17, 1997, with Southwest Airlines. Compared with the 737 Classic, the 737NG features a redesigned wing with a larger area and wingspan, increased fuel capacity, higher maximum takeoff weight, and improved range exceeding 3,000 nautical miles. The 737NG, powered by CFM International CFM56-7 series engines, also incorporates a glass cockpit and updated avionics architecture. Production of commercial passenger versions ended in 2019 with final deliveries in January 2020, while the series was later succeeded by the Boeing 737 Max introduced in 2017. 

The simulator delivered by Havelsan in Antalya is a Flight Training Device Level 2 (FTD Level 2), which is a certified ground-based training simulator that replicates the cockpit configuration, systems behavior, and flight dynamics of a specific aircraft type. A full-scale cockpit replica includes instruments, panels, switches, flight controls, avionics interfaces, throttle quadrant, flight management systems, and navigation radios arranged to match the aircraft layout. Computer software reproduces aircraft performance in ground and flight conditions by simulating aerodynamic forces, thrust, aircraft mass, inertia, and configuration changes. Unlike full flight simulators, an FTD Level 2 normally operates without a motion platform but provides detailed cockpit and systems interaction.

The device remains fixed-base while reproducing operational procedures and systems responses experienced during real 737 operation, as the fleet of SunExpress is composed of 77 aircraft, including 57 Boeing 737-800 (737NG) and 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8 airliners. Training activities conducted in an FTD Level 2 training system include cockpit familiarization, standard operating procedure practice, checklist execution, instrument flight procedures, abnormal and emergency situations, as well as multi-crew cockpit coordination. Because the simulator reproduces aircraft systems such as electrical, hydraulic, fuel, pneumatic, flight control, avionics and environmental systems, interactions between failures and aircraft behavior can be reproduced in training scenarios.

Instructors can introduce faults, including hydraulic failures, electrical malfunctions, avionics problems, or engine anomalies, to train crew responses in controlled conditions. The cockpit environment also allows instrument approaches, holding procedures, and navigation exercises to be practiced repeatedly without using a real aircraft. Multi-crew capability allows two pilots to operate simultaneously, enabling training in communication, workload sharing, and crew resource management. The absence of a motion system reduces operating cost compared with full motion simulators while still enabling frequent training cycles and repeated scenarios. Havelsan's device obtained both FTD Level 2 and FNPT II MCC qualifications under aviation training regulations.

FNPT II refers to a Flight and Navigation Procedures Trainer Level II, meaning Havelsan's simulator is capable of replicating aircraft flight and navigation procedures with sufficient realism for professional pilot instruction. The MCC extension adds Multi-Crew Cooperation capability, enabling coordinated operation by two pilots occupying captain and first officer positions. Regulatory standards require duplicated flight instruments and correct cockpit geometry so both pilots see identical instrument displays and outside perspectives. Crew training includes pilot flying and pilot monitoring roles, workload sharing, as well as standardized communication procedures used in airline operations.

Training credits for such simulators can include instrument rating training, multi-engine procedures, airline preparation courses, and multi-crew coordination programs. Aviation training device categories range from Basic Instrument Training Devices and FNPT systems through FTD simulators to full flight simulators with motion capability. Qualification of simulators follows regulatory frameworks used by aviation authorities, including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and other national regulators. Certification requirements define cockpit fidelity, aircraft system modeling, flight dynamics accuracy, visual system performance, and instructor control capability.

Validation testing compares simulator responses with aircraft performance data and includes objective measurements and subjective evaluations by qualified pilots. Environmental simulation must reproduce conditions such as wind, turbulence, wind shear, and varying runway surfaces, including dry, wet, or icy states. Simulator response latency must remain within defined limits, with system delays typically maintained between 150 milliseconds and 300 milliseconds, depending on the subsystem. Recurrent evaluations are conducted periodically to ensure that certified devices continue to meet regulatory requirements. Once approved, training organizations can incorporate the simulator into licensed training programs.

The simulator delivered to SunExpress also integrates Havelsan’s Starview-B visual imaging system, a collimated display architecture that generates the external environment visible through cockpit windows. Collimation uses optical projection and mirror arrangements so that visual imagery appears at infinite distance, allowing both pilots to observe an identical runway perspective regardless of seating position. The system renders terrain models, airports, runway markings, taxiways, buildings, and surrounding obstacles, while also reproducing atmospheric conditions including clouds, rain, fog, and changing visibility. Visual scenes support training during taxi, takeoff, approach, and landing phases of flight and enable low visibility or adverse weather scenarios.

Accurate runway alignment, horizon reference, and motion perception are critical for approach and landing training. Regulatory guidance for high-end simulator visuals includes a continuous collimated field of view of at least 75 degrees horizontally and 30 degrees vertically for each pilot seat. The Starview-B subsystem forms part of Havelsan’s strategy to develop simulator components domestically, reducing reliance on external suppliers for visual technologies used in advanced simulators. Integration of the visual environment into the Starline simulator family supports certification requirements for devices such as FNPT II MCC and FTD Level 2. The Boeing 737NG FTD Level 2 simulator delivered to SunExpress incorporates the visual system to support procedural accuracy during training operations.

The system allows pilots to practice runway acquisition, glidepath tracking, flare, and touchdown references as well as ground navigation at complex airport environments. Emergency training scenarios can include crosswind landings, low visibility approaches, severe weather, and runway contamination. Visual realism contributes to pilot situational awareness during simulated flight operations. Havelsan has more than 40 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of flight simulators and integrated training solutions for civil and military aviation operators.

The company reports having developed and delivered hundreds of simulators representing more than 60 aircraft types across different aviation sectors. Once the current production backlog is completed, the total number of delivered simulators is expected to exceed 400 units supplied to national and international customers. The Boeing 737NG FTD Level 2 delivered to the SunExpress training center expands the Starline Flight Simulation Training Device portfolio with an aircraft-specific fixed-base simulator. Havelsan indicated that after-sales support and long-term cooperation with airline operators remain central elements of its simulator programs. The company is seeking additional airline and training center operators interested in acquiring information about its simulator offerings and potential cooperation projects.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.