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GDS Engineering R&D, Inc. is an official member of RTCA Organization

GDS Engineering R&D joined and became an official member of RTCA Organization on 27 January 2022.

RTCA creates the venue for collaboration, consensus, and government/industry partnerships on the performance standards development process. The members of RTCA are from organizations, entities, and governments from across the globe including aircraft and avionics manufacturing, service providers, R&D, academia, UAS and more. RTCA is creating and sustaining partnerships and being part of this we hope that GDS will also play important roles in shaping the future aviation system.

As a member organization of RTCA, Inc. GDS Engineering, Inc. can now be involved with the aviation industry and government professionals who are building consensus today on the electronic and telecommunication issues of tomorrow’s aviation. That consensus forms the recommendations for policy, procedural and equipment standards that will affect the way we all do business in the worldwide aviation community.

As a member of RTCA, GDS Engineering,Inc. is entitled to substantial benefits to the way we do business in aviation. RTCA members receive complimentary access to documents, the opportunity to participate on committees, discounts on training and events and more.

GDS Systems Engineering V&V Training Courses
Event Calendar

We announce upcoming training on these pages. Due to COVID-19 pandemic situation, we offer only ONLINE training courses for the time being. Please communicate with us if you need a group training, which could be scheduled based on your plans and schedules.

Select the best training from below list that fits to your training needs.

Upcoming Events


We are glad that we are now part of the RTCA group of organizations.

GDS Systems Engineering Training Programs. Online Training. Training helps reduce your design and operational risks. We provide MIL-STD-810H, RTCA-DO-160, Vibration and Shock, FAA Requirements Management courses. by Dr Ismail Cicek and a CVE certified by EASA. Tailoring of the MIL-STD-810H test methods and procedures. EUT. Equipment Under Test. Online Classes. US based intructor. US DOD. EASA. FAA. NASA. Miliary Stanrdards. Askeri Test Standartları. Çevresel Test Standart Eğitimi. Eğitim. Acceleration Testing. Aircraft Systems. RTCA-DO-160. Crash Hazard. Korozyon Testleri. Corrosion Tests. Environmental Testing of Products, provided by GDS Engineering R&D, Systems Engineering Products and Solutions. Dr. Ismail Cicek. Product Verification and Validation Courses for Integrated Systems. C-17 Military Aicraft. FAA/EASA. US DoD. Safety First. US Army. US Air Force and US Navy Tailoring Examples for Mission and Environmental Profile. Setting Test Limits and Durations are Explained. How to evaluate test results and mitigate the risk (Risk Assessment Matrix). Aircafft Equipment, Devices, Plugs, Machinary, Engines, Compressors, or Carry-on. European CE Time Schedule.

Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) of Marine Devices and Electrical Equipment

Devices used onboard a ship are exposed to harsh electromagnetic environments, whether in the propulsion, deck or bridge area of a ship. Testing of such devices for Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) is therefore very important. Otherwise, manufacturers can face difficulties during the certification and procurement stages.

EMC testing and certification  services to ensure your marine products comply with relevant international standards and regulations is a MUST!

GDS Engineering R&D does not perform these tests yet; however, have the information on design and test knowledge. The requirements include the international conventions as agreed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

Currently, we have observed that these tests are conducted by reputable agencies like ELEMENT.

The testing laboratories use the following standards to test the marine electronic, digital or electrical devices for certification to IMO SOLAS requirements, guidance, or recommendations:

  • IEC 60945
  • IEC 60533
  • Lloyds Register Test Spec No 1
  • DNV Certification Notes 2.4
  • IEC 60092

Click this link to read more about ELEMENT’s advertisements.  Element also provides the following additional information in their website:

Support and guidance from the initial design stage

The use of composite materials in ship construction together with new radio technologies and high power electronics are changing the requirements and design goals that need to be achieved to ensure electromagnetic compatibility.  Element is well placed with our knowledge of both standards and the target environment to provide detailed guidance of the best compliance strategies to adopt for your marine products.

CE Marking and Wheel Mark certification

Element performs EMC testing in conjunction with climatic and environmental test requirements to meet dedicated marine standards and be compliant with CE marking legislation. We make sure your marine equipment complies with the relevant EMC standards listed in the Marine Equipment Directive to help you achieve the Wheel Mark certification.

EMC test plans
Online Training on MIL-STD-810H, RTCA-DO-160, MIL-STD-461G, MIL-STD-704 Environmental Testing of Products, provided by GDS Engineering R&D, Systems Engineering Products and Solutions. Training Led by a Live US-based Sr. Instructor: Dr. Ismail Cicek. Product Verification and Validation Courses for Integrated Systems. C-17 Military Aicraft. FAA/EASA. US DoD. Safety First. US Army. US Air Force and US Navy Tailoring Examples for Mission and Environmental Profile. Setting Test Limits and Durations are Explained. How to evaluate test results and mitigate the risk (Risk Assessment Matrix). Aircafft Equipment, Devices, Plugs, Machinary, Engines, Compressors, or Carry-on. European CE Time Schedule. FAA Requirements Management. Efficient way of learning. Continues Education. Class Material.

Our test facilities for both EMC and environmental provide a comprehensive portfolio of tests to ensure that whatever your marine equipment is, and no matter where it’s located, we have a test solution that matches your needs.

Coordinated approach to testing for global market access

Our expertise comes from testing thousands of different products every year, and our industry-leading capacity allows us appropriate coordination of testing, so your marine equipment meets common standards of safety and performance across the EU and is accepted for entry into world markets.

For more information, we currently advice you contact with Element support desk.

Ship Engine Room Simulator (ERS) SERS GDS Engineering R&D IMO STCW 2010, Engine Performance, Main Diesel Engine, Marine, Maritime, IMO Model Course 2.07. Certified by ClassNK. ITU Maritime Faculty. Yıldız Technical University. Competencies. Operation and Management Level. Education and Training. Assessment of Marine Engineers. Troubleshooting with Fault Tree Scnearious and Analysis Reporting. Objective Assessment. Nippon Kaiji Kyokai.High Voltage Training Functions 6600 VAC. Ship Propulsion Systems. Maritime Education and Training. Main Engine Performance. Sunken Diagrams. Energy Efficiency. Marine Engineering. Effect of Draft Change in the Ship Main Engine Performance Parameters. Management Level Training Exercices, Marine Engineering Education and Training. SERS Trademark

Effect of Weather on the Marine Propulsion Engine Performance Onboard a Ship

IMO Model Course Exercise recommends students learn the weather change effect on engine performance.

GDS Engineering R&D developed a modern Engine Room Simulator (ERS) and it is in use by various research and training institutions. GDS ERS, called SERS, includes all engine room, ship, and environmental paramaters to demonstrate the weather effect to engine performance while onboard systems are maintaining their status with the displayed parameters. This scenario study is a predefined and set in the ERS for instructors to directly apply in their STCW Management Level Exercises. Student Workbooks accomodate this exercise with specficic forms to fill by the trainees.

Ship Engine Room Simulator (ERS) SERS GDS Engineering R&D IMO STCW 2010, Engine Performance, Main Diesel Engine, Marine, Maritime, IMO Model Course 2.07. Certified by ClassNK. ITU Maritime Faculty. Yıldız Technical University. Competencies. Operation and Management Level. Education and Training. Assessment of Marine Engineers. Troubleshooting with Fault Tree Scnearious and Analysis Reporting. Objective Assessment. Nippon Kaiji Kyokai.High Voltage Training Functions 6600 VAC. Ship Propulsion Systems. Maritime Education and Training. Main Engine Performance. Sunken Diagrams. Energy Efficiency. Marine Engineering. Effect of Draft Change in the Ship Main Engine Performance Parameters. Management Level Training Exercices, Marine Engineering Education and Training. SERS Trademark

A Study of the Main Propulsion Engine Performance with Ship’s Draft Change

Purpose: Exercise the weather effect to engine performance using the Ship ERS. Generate a report with capturing the images using SERS GUI panels and tools provided. Note that this exercise is generated as part of the IMO Model Course 2.07 (2017 Edition) exercises. This training exercise was developed as part of the IMO STCW 2010 Management Level objectives using the Model Course 2.07 guidelines ans steps. 

Note: This classroom exercise was provided in this page as an example. Click here to visit the Ship Engine Room Simulator product to read more.

Step 1: ERS is operated in Navigation Mode and Ballast Transfer System is lined up for ballast operations. Draft is Low (i.e. d=9 m.)

Effect of Draft Change in the Ship Main Engine Performance Parameters IMO Model Course 2.07, IMO, STCW 2010, Management Level Training Exercices, Marine Engineering Education and Training, Maritime. GDS Engineering R&D, SERS, Trademark

Step 2: ME Processes GUI Panel displays the ME Parameters while the draft is increasing. Check Figure 2 for that the the baseline (sea test) data/graphs are displayed. Being able to understand the ME performance graphs are important in this exercise. 

Effect of Draft Change in the Ship Main Engine Performance Parameters IMO Model Course 2.07, IMO, STCW 2010, Management Level Training Exercices, Marine Engineering Education and Training, Maritime. GDS Engineering R&D, SERS, Trademark

Step 3: Ensure the  control of the main engine is set to “RPM”.

Effect of Draft Change in the Ship Main Engine Performance Parameters IMO Model Course 2.07, IMO, STCW 2010, Management Level Training Exercices, Marine Engineering Education and Training, Maritime. GDS Engineering R&D, SERS, Trademark

Step 4: Graphs and Plots GUI Panel displays the trend data for the selected parameters. In this exercise, it is important to plot the draft and ME Power. Additionally, it is important to select the ME Power versus ME RPM in the X-Y plot area to see the ME Power change while the RPM is controlled.

Effect of Draft Change in the Ship Main Engine Performance Parameters IMO Model Course 2.07, IMO, STCW 2010, Management Level Training Exercices, Marine Engineering Education and Training, Maritime. GDS Engineering R&D, SERS, Trademark

Step 5: Status of the Ballast Tanks and Levels are important to observe.

Effect of Draft Change in the Ship Main Engine Performance Parameters IMO Model Course 2.07, IMO, STCW 2010, Management Level Training Exercices, Marine Engineering Education and Training, Maritime. GDS Engineering R&D, SERS, Trademark

Step 6: Students should be able to interpret time (trend) and X-Y graphs for this operation, as part of the MANAGEMENT LEVEL exercise objectives.

Effect of Draft Change in the Ship Main Engine Performance Parameters IMO Model Course 2.07, IMO, STCW 2010, Management Level Training Exercices, Marine Engineering Education and Training, Maritime. GDS Engineering R&D, SERS, Trademark

Step 7: Complete the exercise with noting the ME parameter changes.

Effect of Draft Change in the Ship Main Engine Performance Parameters IMO Model Course 2.07, IMO, STCW 2010, Management Level Training Exercices, Marine Engineering Education and Training, Maritime. GDS Engineering R&D, SERS, Trademark

Ship Engine Room Simulator (ERS) SERS GDS Engineering R&D IMO STCW 2010, Engine Performance, Main Diesel Engine, Marine, Maritime, IMO Model Course 2.07. Certified by ClassNK. ITU Maritime Faculty. Yıldız Technical University. Competencies. Operation and Management Level. Education and Training. Assessment of Marine Engineers. Troubleshooting with Fault Tree Scnearious and Analysis Reporting. Objective Assessment. Nippon Kaiji Kyokai.High Voltage Training Functions 6600 VAC. Ship Propulsion Systems. Maritime Education and Training. Main Engine Performance. Sunken Diagrams. Energy Efficiency. Marine Engineering. Effect of Draft Change in the Ship Main Engine Performance Parameters. Management Level Training Exercices, Marine Engineering Education and Training. SERS Trademark

Capture GDS Vision in the Engine Room Simulator Development

GDS Engineering R&D is a research and development company, established by the academicians employed at Istanbul Technical University Maritime Faculty, Tuzla, Istanbul. GDS SERS Development Team has been utilizing engine room simulators since 2001, every year for training of marine engineering students with the following two engineering courses:

ERS I Operational Level Simulator Course: This course is for STCW Operational Level Proficiency Training after completing other Operational Level Courses at 4-year-university level. It is 4 hrs a week continuing for 14 weeks per semester. Each student must take this course to be eligible for long term training onboard a ship.

ERS II Management level Simulator Course: This course is to satisfy the proficiency levels for Management Level. It is 3 hours for 14 weeks and each student must complete the onboard training and then after completing this class for graduation.

Effect of Draft Change in the Ship Main Engine Performance Parameters IMO Model Course 2.07, IMO, STCW 2010, Management Level Training Exercices, Marine Engineering Education and Training, Maritime. GDS Engineering R&D, SERS, Trademark

Through using simulators in both of these courses since 2001, we gained a good level of expertise on the use of simulators in Maritime Education & Training. Our team has also provided Training of Trainers courses IMO Model Courses 6.09 and 6.10. Some of our team members provided on site training at other Turkish institutions and became experienced on using simulators developed by various manufacturers.

Experienced in academic, engineering, and simulator courses, we have started describing a new simulator, aiming to provide an engine room simulator with the following important characteristics:

  • Reduction of Learning Time of the Software to Focus on Engine Room Systems Training:
    • Having different mouse key assignments or keyboard shortcuts in a simulator for various software functions and controls make the software much more complex to use and that affect the training objectives negatively. Therefore;
    • SERS provide a much less complex user interface allowing trainees focus on the professional tasks for “running the engine room systems” rather than “running the simulator.”
    • All GUI panels are easily displayed or closed:

“1-Click” Approach for ease of use:

  • All sysems are operated with a left mouse click.
  • All software functions are activated with a left mouse click.
  • All selections are made with a left mouse click.
  • No hidden functions or keys to use for activating a specific panel.

Fidelity and Realism

    • Having a more accurate approach on how to display and how to operate the systems and components.
    • Realistic functionality of pumps, compressors, engines, etc. with mathematical modeling reflecting the realistic time durations and process dynamics.
    • Realistic remote and local control for the pumps and compressors.
    • Realistic graphical user interface for electrical system (Circuit Breakers, Remote Panels, Synchronization Panel, etc.)
    • Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) objects, such as valves, are designed and shown in accordance with the respective international standards. Also, real engine rooms are studied to understand and display the controls, valves, and similar objects with a more understandable object design.
    • Pipe colors are selected to fit to the international standards. This provides a more comprehensive maritime education approach and ensures enough practice opportunity for diagram reading in the real engine room.
    • Components are created with various drawing and design software packages, then they are animated for better understanding, and better on-off state indications. For example, trainee could understand a pump is turning and could see there is a flow in a pipe with both color change and observed parameters.
    • Enough/necessary parameters displayed to understand the engineering principles.
    • Emphasis on Safety Systems (CO2 Fixed Fire Installation system is included as a separate panel)
    • Emphasis on Upcoming Regulations or Technology (Inclusion of ME Denoxification system as a separate panel).
    • Basic sounds (alarms and engine sounds) are implemented. Alarms are implemented appropriately as in the real environment with SILENCE, ACKNOWLEDGE and RESET buttons.

Unique Assessment Features

SERS provides direct evaluation methods with objective evidence of training with the following training outputs:

  • A text based training report generated for each trainee for each training session.
  • Screen captures generated for each user action and recorded in a historic time order, allowing to monitor and display the complete flow of the trainee actions.
  • Instructor monitoring and reaction time display and record for each trainee.
  • Trainee tools to easily record and maintain the training records.
  • More Accurate Philosphy is developed for use of SERS for a more Efficient and Realistic “Team Management” Training
    • “Repeating all functions in distributed computers” approach cause students tend to complete all training functions from one computer only. However;
    • SERS architecture allow for distributing panels to different units without repeating. Student must complete the task from its designated location.