HAVELSAN Full Flight Simulators: 12 Simulators for THY
What does HAVELSAN do in civil aviation? Known for its military simulators, HAVELSAN also produces full flight simulators (FFS) for civil aviation. Under a contract signed with Turkish Airlines (THY), the company will produce a total of 12 new simulators: 8 full flight simulators and 4 flight training devices (FTD). This article looks at HAVELSAN’s civil flight simulator business, based on official sources.
For the military side, see our articles on simulation and training technologies and the HELSİM helicopter simulator.
What is a full flight simulator (FFS)?
A full flight simulator is the highest-level training device, replicating an aircraft’s cockpit, flight dynamics and visual environment one-to-one, together with a motion system. Airline pilots complete a significant part of their type-rating, refresher and emergency training on these devices instead of the real aircraft. A flight training device (FTD), by contrast, is a complementary device without a motion system, focused on procedure and systems training.
The THY contract: 12 simulators
The contract signed between THY and HAVELSAN covers the delivery of 12 simulators in total: 8 full flight simulators and 4 flight training devices. All of them will be produced in Türkiye with domestic and national capabilities. The devices will support the capacity of the new simulator hangars whose foundation was laid in January 2026, with the first phase planned to enter service in 2027. THY’s new Flight Training Center is planned to be completed in 2028.
Wide-body: a first for HAVELSAN
Under the contract, HAVELSAN will develop simulators for both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft types. The wide-body aircraft simulator will be the company’s first project in this field, giving HAVELSAN a new competence in wide-body flight simulation, an area demanding high technology.
THY–HAVELSAN contract at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scope | 12 simulators in total |
| Breakdown | 8 full flight simulators (FFS) + 4 flight training devices (FTD) |
| Aircraft types | Narrow-body + wide-body (wide-body a first for HAVELSAN) |
| Production | In Türkiye, with domestic and national capabilities |
| Timeline | Hangar foundation Jan 2026; phase 1 in 2027; training centre 2028 |
Why it matters
The full flight simulator market is a field with only a handful of manufacturers worldwide. HAVELSAN’s move into airline-scale serial simulator production both frees Türkiye’s pilot-training capacity from external dependency and carries the competence the company has built in military simulation into the civil market.
Frequently asked questions
How many simulators will HAVELSAN produce for THY?
A total of 12 simulators: 8 full flight simulators and 4 flight training devices.
What is the difference between an FFS and an FTD?
An FFS is a top-level device with a motion system that replicates the cockpit one-to-one; an FTD is a procedure and systems training device without a motion system.
Where will the simulators be produced?
All of them will be produced in Türkiye with domestic and national capabilities.
Why is the wide-body simulator significant?
The wide-body aircraft simulator is HAVELSAN’s first project in this field and will give the company a new high-technology competence.
Sources
- HAVELSAN, Full Flight Simulators — havelsan.com
- Anadolu Agency — aa.com.tr
- TRT Haber — trthaber.com
