OREANDA-NEWS. September 26, 2012. Boeing (NYSE: BA) announces the addition of a new "green" flight training center to the Boeing Flight Services training network. The facility, developed by International Flight Training Center (IFTC), opened today in Antalya in the southwestern region of Turkey. It operates on solar power and incorporates several other environmentally progressive features, making it the first self-sustaining flight training center in the world.

The Antalya center builds on a partnership launched in December 2011 between Boeing and IFTC at IFTC's existing training facility in Istanbul. The partnership expands training capabilities in the region and provides a competitive advantage for airlines seeking to train and qualify new personnel in expanding aviation markets.

The 2012 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook forecasts a need for more than 100,000 new commercial airline pilots in Europe over the next 20 years. Globally, the demand is for nearly a half-million pilots. 

"Boeing is working to develop innovative solutions for our customers as we face tremendous demand for commercial airline pilots," said Sherry Carbary, vice president, Boeing Flight Services. "In partnership with IFTC we're now able to supply capable and well-qualified personnel in facilities close to our customers. This new capability combines IFTC's expertise and operations with the Boeing Edge - our unparalleled airplane and training knowledge that combines with breakthrough technologies - in a truly remarkable, self-sustaining facility."

Boeing and IFTC currently offer training on two Next-Generation 737 and two A320 full-flight simulators and flat panel trainers in a state of the art facility located in the Ataturk Airport free trade zone.

The Antalya site will operate as a satellite facility of the Istanbul training campus and features a Next-Generation 737 full-flight simulator. Antalya-based SunExpress is the initial airline training customer for the new facility.

"Our vision is to offer the highest quality and most cost efficient training with the utmost of customer friendly service, while at the same time operating a completely sustainable simulator center," said Marty van Veluw, CEO of IFTC. "We're excited to share this vision with Boeing and to lead the industry with this first of its kind 'green' training center, developed in Turkey by IFTC and our partners."

The "green" features at the Antalya facility include modular construction, solar power to run the simulators and water cooling systems. In addition, employees and customers will be transported to the facility in solar charged electric cars. The facility plans a small community of self- sustaining "green" houses for student lodging. Additional modular buildings are planned for the coming year to house simulators as well as a cabin safety training facility.