SEATTLE, April 19 (UPI) -- Training of Turkish air force personnel in the operation of Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft is under way near Seattle.
Classroom training for Turkey's Peace Eagle AEW&C program includes the areas of mechanical avionics, mission systems and electronic warfare subsystems and is being conducted by instructors from Boeing Defense Australia and Boeing Training and Flight Services.
Ten Turkish air force personnel and two Turkish Airlines employees are participating in the training, which employs computer-based training, simulators and hands-on experience aboard the first Peace Eagle aircraft for Turkey.
"Training is a critical part of the full capability Boeing is providing in the Peace Eagle program," said Mark Ellis, Peace Eagle program manager for Boeing.
"Boeing is working closely with the Turkish air force and Turkish industry to ensure that they can effectively use and maintain this powerful airborne surveillance, communications and battle-management system."
Boeing said 81 students are scheduled to take the system maintenance courses at the Boeing facility over the next 10 months; 85 others will train at the Peace Eagle main operating base in Konya, Turkey. Another 20 Turkish air force personnel are receiving mission crew training in the United States.
Boeing is delivering the first of four aircraft to Turkey by the end of this year.
