[NEWMARKET, ONTARIO, February 10, 2026] – DHL Air (UK) Ltd. has taken delivery of a custom-built B777 flight training device at its East Midlands Airport facility, designed to support the cargo carrier’s pilot training operations as it manages fleet transitions and type rating requirements.
“As we expand our 777 operations, having dedicated training capacity on-site gives us control over scheduling and pilot readiness”
Mike Bird, Head of Flight Crew Training, DHL Air (UK) Ltd
The installation addresses a common challenge facing carriers introducing new aircraft types into their fleets. When pilots transition between generationally different aircraft, such as DHL’s established 757 and 767 fleets to the B777, demand for type rating training can quickly outpace available capacity at external training providers, creating scheduling bottlenecks that affect operational readiness.
The FDS B777 flight training device provides DHL Air (UK) Ltd. with dedicated in-house training capacity. Unlike touchscreen-based trainers, the device features a 100% tactile flight deck with full control loading, allowing pilots to develop authentic muscle memory in a spatially accurate cockpit environment. This approach accelerates the transition to actual aircraft operations by building genuine familiarity with switch locations, control feel, and system interfaces during the learning process, rather than adapting to these elements for the first time in a full flight simulator or the aircraft itself.
The device was built with a fully bespoke exterior featuring DHL’s signature yellow livery with red stripe and corporate branding – a reflection of FDS’s custom engineering capabilities and the collaborative nature of the project.
“As we expand our 777 operations, having dedicated training capacity on-site gives us control over scheduling and pilot readiness,” said Mike Bird, Head of Flight Crew Training, DHL Air (UK) Ltd. “The tactile fidelity was important to us – we wanted our crews building real familiarity with the flight deck, not adapting to it later in full-flight sim time.”
Peter Cos, Flightdeck Solutions President, added: “This installation reflects the dedication of the entire FDS team, and the confidence DHL Air (UK) Ltd. has placed in our approach to training devices. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support their pilot development program.”
The B777 flight training device includes an enclosed instructor operating station (IOS) with comprehensive scenario control, weather injection, failure management, and flight recording capabilities. The installation supports procedures training, systems familiarization, and crew resource management exercises.
