``It is Our Most Important Responsibility to Ensure the Air Vehicles in the Inventory to Perform Their Tasks Safely and Effectively``

Defence Turkey: Could you inform us about the historical development of the maintenance activities for Naval Aircraft?

Commander Erkan AKDERELİ: Upon the emergence of the Turkish Naval Aviation, the Maintenance Command has been continuing its activities together with its personnel in order to support the maintenance and repair activities of the naval aircraft in the inventory. Considering the issues detailed in the reports on the establishment of Turkish Naval Aviation, it is seen that the idea of performing the maintenance activities for naval aircraft dates back to 1912.

It is known that during the process of selecting / purchasing aircraft to be supplied for the Ottoman Army, pilot trainings as well as maintenance training for two officers were planned in 1912 and one of these two officers was Marine Engineer Lieutenant Jg. Mehmet FETHİ. Marine Engineer Lieutenant Jg. Mehmet FETHİ was a pioneer in flight and maintenance / repair activities in the history of Turkish Naval Aviation and played an important role in the foundations of Naval Aviation.

Due to the increasing importance of the seas, the activities to establish air power consisting of two fleets, including rotating and fixed wings, were initiated in 1960 in order to meet the mission needs of the Navy. Within this framework, in line with the protocol signed with the Turkish Air Force Command (TurAF) in 1968, the activities were speeded up for the training of maintenance personnel and the re-establishment of Naval Aviation for the flight, operation / maintenance of the aircraft to be supplied.

In the Naval Aviation organizations, maintenance personnel previously worked at the flight fleet commands, then during the 1991-1992 academic year, the organizational structure changed and the institutional structure was adopted with the establishment of the Supply and Maintenance Command.

In order to separate logistics and maintenance activities for the execution by two different units, the Supply and Maintenance Command was divided into two as Material Management Command and Maintenance Command in December 2009. Accordingly, the Maintenance Command has been continuing maintenance and repair activities until today.

Defence Turkey: On which basis were the maintenance organization and maintenance concept built upon transition to an institutional structure? What kind of maintenance / repair services are provided for naval aircraft in the inventory of the Naval Air Command?

Cdr. Erkan AKDERELİ: The three-level maintenance concept in military aviation is the most common method preferred worldwide. For the aircraft in the inventory of our Command, a three-level maintenance concept is applied which covers; Operational Level (O-Level), Intermediate Level (I-Level) and Depot / Factory Level (D-Level) maintenance services.

"Operational Level Maintenance", which delivers the necessary maintenance and services required for the preparation of aircraft for flight, is provided in all maintenance units affiliated to the Naval Air Command, and is carried out by the deployment maintenance teams formed in the coastal units and floating platforms.

"Intermediate Level Maintenance", which delivers repair activities and adjustments by using special ground support equipment and test sets on aircraft devices / equipment, is carried out by the expert maintenance personnel within the Topel and Dalaman Base Maintenance Commands, which are affiliated to the Naval Air Command. Upon Anadolu Multi-Purpose Amphibious Assault Ship’s (LHD) entry into the inventory towards the end of 2021, the Intermediate Level Maintenance capability is planned to be achieved also in floating elements.

"Depot / Factory Level Maintenance", which includes maintenance / repairs other than Line and Intermediate Level as well as frame / device renewal processes, is generally carried out by factories within the General Directorate of Military Factories or authorized companies.

Defence Turkey: What is the process for the recruitment and training of maintenance personnel needed to carry out maintenance activities?

Cdr. Erkan AKDERELİ: Until 2010, our technician needs working on air vehicles were covered by the Land and Air Forces Commands, while the recruitment and training activities of our personnel after 2010 are carried out by the Naval Forces Command.

In this respect, the Naval Air Training Center Command was established within the Naval Air Command in 2010 in order to provide training for naval air personnel.

With the development of the infrastructure and training capabilities of the Naval Air Training Center Command, the personnel recruited by the Naval Forces Command in order to meet the technician needs of the Naval Air Command, basic aviation training has started to be given in two branches, namely mechanics and avionics as of 2017, by the expert personnel in the Naval Air Training Center Command. With the addition of the personnel whose training is about to be completed, the basic training of a total of 327 technicians, 201 mechanics and 126 avionics, will have been completed during the period since 2017 until today. Along with the basic aviation training, maintenance training for different aircraft types is also provided in the training center to increase the personnel’s knowledge on air vehicles.

In addition, the training process of the maintenance officers appointed as the administrative staff in the Air Force Command was terminated in 2012 and their training has been started at the Naval Air Training Center Command. Till now, a total of 20 maintenance officers have been trained at the Naval Air Training Center Command, and they took office as maintenance officers in the Naval Forces Command.

Defence Turkey: What kind of activities / projects are executed or planned to further improve the existing maintenance, repair and maintenance infrastructure of the Naval Air Command?

Cdr. Erkan AKDERELİ: Naval aviation activities have been developing rapidly in recent years and the number of our air platforms has been increasing accordingly. All necessary infrastructure works are planned for the continuance of naval aviation activities, constantly increasing in quality and quantity, with the most appropriate physical conditions and with ground support equipment. With the increasing number of air vehicles, the new hangar / parking area project activities for Topel, Dalaman, Çanakkale and Geçitkale airfields have been speeded up in order to meet the hangar / parking area requirements.

In parallel, the existing personnel at our Command have gained key skills on aircraft and devices / equipment through training and experience. All necessary efforts are exerted to increase the capabilities of our Command, and great importance is attached to the activities carried out with military factories, defense industry and domestic companies for the development of aircraft and devices / equipment by closely following developing technologies.

Within this framework, as a result of the domestic repair/manufacturing activities initiated by our Command in parallel with the directives of the Ministry of National Defense (MoND) in line with the localisation activities, the foreign dependency for the mission system equipment used especially on aircraft has been significantly minimized and substantial budget savings have been achieved. Efforts to make a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with companies holding domestic repair capabilities under the supervision of the General Directorate of Military Factories have also been initiated.

Furthermore, as per the directive issued by the Ministry of National Defense for the centralization of procurement, the necessary activities regarding organizational change of the Material Management Center Command, which is the executor of the logistics processes, to function directly under the Ministry of National Defense. Upon the finalization of such process, the repair / supply activities for the air vehicles will be accelerated.

Defence Turkey: Would you like to add anything in the way of a message for our readers?

Cdr. Erkan AKDERELİ: With the awareness that flight safety begins primarily at ground operations, and with the "safety first" philosophy, all maintenance personnel devotedly fulfill their respective duties and responsibilities.

It is our most important responsibility to ensure that the personnel, training and logistics needs related to maintenance activities are constantly evaluated and updated when necessary, in the light of the experiences gained for the safe, efficient and cost-effective operation and maintenance of the aircraft in the inventory, and to ensure that the air vehicles serve safely and efficiently.

Defence Turkey: Dear Commander, thank you for sparing your valuable time to our readers