Turkish Airlines Flight Academy increases Diamond Aircraft Fleet

Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA) has recently received 2 brand-new DA42-VI and ordered 6 DA40 NG, an additional 7 DA42-VI and two Convertible DA40/DA42 FNPT II. With this new investment, the Diamond Aircraft Fleet will be increased to 26 Diamond aircraft (12 DA40, 14 DA42).

Assoc. Prof. İbrahim Zeki AKYURT (CEO, TAFA) and Jane Wang (Sales Director, Diamond Aircraft Austria) at Diamond Aircraft’s headquarters in Wiener Neustadt (Austria).

TAFA CEO, Assoc. Prof. İbrahim Zeki AKYURT stated: “Turkish Airlines Flight Academy is dedicated to training top-quality pilots to meet our airline’s growing needs. The new Diamond DA40 NG and DA42-VI aircraft simulators will enhance our training programs as the identical cockpits of the DA40/DA42 simulators will ensure seamless transition to real flight operations, reflecting our commitment to excellence in pilot training.”

“Diamond Aircraft would like to congratulate Turkish Airlines Flight Academy on the new aircraft purchase,” said Jane Wang, Sales Director, Diamond Aircraft Austria. “They will hugely benefit from the most modern piston training aircraft technology available today and Diamond’s operational cost efficiencies as well as low emissions and noise signature.”

The 4-seat DA42-VI is the newest version of Diamond’s technology leading light piston twin-engine aircraft. It’s the first certified general aviation piston aircraft to combine modern technology airframe, avionics, and power plants. With its unique combination of performance and utility, the jet fuel powered DA42-VI is designed to make transitioning from single to twin engine much easier. The aircraft generates fuel savings of up to 50% compared to conventional AVGAS powered twins, and its panoramic canopy provides excellent visibility during all flight maneuvers.

The modern and safe composite DA40 NG, powered by the sophisticated Austro Engine 168 hp AE300 jet fuel engine, is an effective training platform for commercial cross-country navigation and instrument approach/landing procedures. The aircraft features Garmin G1000 NXi glass cockpits and is exceptionally fuel efficient and quiet.

Diamond Aircraft’s flight simulation devices are exact replicas of the real Diamond aircraft, built with authentic aircraft parts, with real avionics, high-end visuals and OEM flight dynamic models for fidelity that is simply unsurpassed. The instrument panel is fitted with the original Garmin G1000 NXi avionics suite and standby instruments, allowing to train in a completely realistic environment. Diamond simulators are at the cutting edge of the industry to ensure the most sophisticated simulation training in preparation for advanced flight training.

About Diamond Aircraft’s Flight Training Solution

Diamond’s dedication to flight training has shaped its product line of modern fuel-efficient aircraft, each with a specific training application in mind. With its complete line of piston aircraft – including a dedicated flight training concept with Single Engine Piston (DA40 NG, DA40 XLT) and Multi Engine Piston (DA42-VI) trainers, along with type-specific flight training simulators and proprietary jet-fuel engines – Diamond Aircraft is the only sole source provider in the flight training market. For more information, please click here.

About Turkish Airlines Flight Academy

Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA) is a shareholder company single-partner joint-stock company and a fully owned subsidiary of Turkish Airlines. Its main areas of operation are flight training and airport management. As a sub-brand of Turkish Airlines, it was founded to provide training for cadet pilots to meet Turkish Airlines pilot requirements, as well as offering Airline Transport Pilot Training (ATP (A) Airline Transport Pilot Training) since June 21, 2012.

TAFA's mission is to train cadets and flight instructors (FI) who are equipped with competencies in line with the culture and values of Turkish Airlines, utilizing international standards and scientific methods. TAFA has set goals for itself to expand its training capacity professional pilots to meet the increasing need for qualified pilots of Turkish Airlines.

Since 2013, TAFA has performed its training at Aydın Çıldır Airport academy facilities, with 42 Training Aircraft, 4 FNPT II Flight Simulators, 55 Flight Instructors, and 3 Flight Operation Bases, (Aydın Çıldır LTBD, Selçuk Efes Airport LTFB, Uşak Airport LTBO).

To date, TAFA has produced about 1500 graduates, with an annual graduate capacity of 300.There are currently 150 students in the theoretical training phase and 250 cadets in the flight training phase. The average graduation time is less than 15 months.

For more information about Turkish Airlines Flight Academy, please click here.