Atlantic Flight Academy’s (AFA) new Simnest A320 FNPT II MCC simulator has received qualification from the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), following an evaluation completed in late October 2026 without any findings. The achievement marks a significant milestone for both companies, expanding AFA’s advanced pilot training capabilities and establishing Simnest Aviation’s first simulator in Türkiye, which will also serve as a regional demonstration platform.
The milestone comes less than a year after the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding at EATS 2025, followed by a purchase agreement in December and the installation of the simulator at AFA’s Istanbul base in August 2026.
The high-fidelity, type-representative A320 FNPT II MCC simulator will support AFA’s APS MCC courses and selected phases of its airline Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) programs.
“Achieving qualification with no findings reinforces our decision to choose Simnest Aviation as our partner,” said Erkan Akçay, CEO of Atlantic Flight Academy. “We were looking for more than a simulator supplier: we needed a team that understands the demands of professional pilot training and can deliver on its commitments. The qualification result reflects both the quality of the device and the successful cooperation between our teams.”
“The qualification result speaks for itself,” said Capt. Gyula Kühtreiber, CEO of Simnest Group. “For us, the significance of this project goes well beyond a successful delivery. Together with AFA, we are establishing a regional demonstration platform where prospective customers can experience our technology in a real training environment. This is an important step in strengthening Simnest Aviation’s presence beyond Europe and reaching new markets.”
Less than a year after the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding at EATS 2025, the simulator has now successfully achieved qualification. Simnest Aviation returns to EATS as an exhibitor, bringing the story back to the event where the partnership was first announced. Visitors can meet the team at Booth 519 in Cascais, Portugal, on 4–5 November.
About Atlantic Flight Academy
Founded in 2011, Atlantic Flight Academy (AFA) is a Türkiye-based pilot training organization offering professional flight training programs in accordance with SHT-FCL and EASA Part-FCL standards. The academy operates across multiple training locations in Türkiye, preparing aspiring pilots for careers in commercial aviation.
About Simnest Aviation
Simnest Aviation, part of Simnest Group, designs and manufactures high-fidelity, type-representative A320 and B737 fixed-base flight simulators, ranging from AATD to FTD level. With nearly 30 simulators delivered worldwide, the company draws on operational experience from its sister company, Simnest Pilot Academy, which has accumulated more than 40,000 hours of simulator operation and issued over 2,000 training certificates.
