KEYVAN Aviation – Global Experts in Flight Operations and Data Analytics
Defence Turkey: Can we start our conversation by getting information about the current organizational structure, personnel status and performance of the KEYVAN Aviation Group, which is headquartered in Istanbul and its performance for the first half of 2022?
Mehmet KEYVAN: KEYVAN Aviation is an Aviation Support and Service company, specially working to support customers with innovative ideas, products and solutions related to Flight Operations and Data Analytics. A wide range of services for Aircraft Avionics Manufacturers, Airline Flight Operations Departments, Flight Planning systems, Airports, and flight Simulators are developed by combining experience, special training and know-how and digital innovation with highest level of quality controls and checks.
Our growing team currently includes more than one hundred analytic and quality staff and every day we are getting bigger as a family. Staff training is the most important part of our organizational structure as a day-to-day activity.
As a company who provides innovative solutions in the aviation industry, KEYVAN Aviation recognizes the importance of providing training and is committed to ensuring it provides measurable results and ensures the competency of our staff.
Defence Turkey: KEYVAN Aviation, which became the first company in Turkey to receive the international Type 1 DAT (LOA Type 1) Provider Certificate issued by the European Civil Aviation and Safety Agency (EASA) in February 2022, and the 4th company in the world, offers its customers main products and services. What can you tell us about the services?
Mehmet KEYVAN: Aeronautical and Navigation Database is the main core of our production line and our mission is to deliver worldwide data coverage with reliable data content analyzed by our experienced team. We use our own Aeronautical & Navigation Database to support customers with Flight planning and route analyzing solutions, simulator data requirements, and new system development options.
KEYVAN Aviation’s Expert team are available to support customers with their consultancy and training needs.
Defence Turkey: KEYVAN Aviation is the 4th company in the world together with Boeing, Airbus and Lufthansa Companies, which has the authority to produce vital aviation data used in Flight Management Systems in civil and military aircraft; does you have State & Military Aviation institutions in your customer portfolio? What can you tell us about the services you provide for State & Military Aviation institutions and your ongoing work in this field, if any?
Mehmet KEYVAN: Aviation’s data and analytic solutions are set to support governments for their planning and special operation needs and special flights, zone planning, operation and risk calculations. By having the most detailed and complete aeronautical and navigation data coverage included with civil and military data and the ability to integrate with civil airspace rules and restrictions and in controlled and detailed areas, KEYVAN is able to support special flight planning requirements, aircraft and airplane or helicopter database and after operation analytic solutions.
KEYVAN is ready to support government VIP flights, Military Operations, Rescue and Humanitarian Operations with flight planning and navigation data requirements and we have been in close contact with them. Governments and military operations require quality services, an expert team and trust, and KEYVAN provides this to all its customers.
Defence Turkey: As an aviation service company that offers its customers solutions, products and innovative approaches related to data analytics and flight operations, the core of KEYVAN Aviation's production activities is the Aviation and Navigation Database. What are the differences between civil/commercial aviation and military aviation in terms of creating a navigation database? What competencies do you have and what solutions do you offer to support Government & Military Aviation operations?
Mehmet KEYVAN: Having access to updated civilian, restrictions and military zones of each country and detailed training for our analysts and quality teams as per each section and requirement, we are able to support governments and military operations with their special needs.
Defence Turkey: Aviation data produced by KEYVAN Aviation can also be used on Flight Simulators since real-world data should be included on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (SİHA), Drones and even simulators, apart from civil and military aircraft. In this context, have you had any projects to provide aviation data for use on UAVs, SIHAs, Drones and Simulators with your customers both at home and abroad? What can you tell us about your ongoing studies and competencies in this regard?
Mehmet KEYVAN: Today’s major difficulties are operating professional drones without entering the civil aviation operational zone and increasing the risk of operation. Many operations are affected by the risk of accidents or incidents and are stopped due to high-risk alert. KEYVAN Aviation creates a green operation zone for each country or state for drone operation by considering the airways, procedures, special areas and limitations by using and subscribing to our special Drone Green Operation Zone Data and Solution, and customer is able to prepare their operational plan without any safety risk.
Defence Turkey: Could you tell our readers about the main projects that KEYVAN Aviation is pursuing or working on in the field of State & Military Aviation?
Mehmet KEYVAN: KEYVAN Aviation’s data and analytic solutions are set to support governments and military with the following:
Navigation Data Requirements
Special Routes Design and Coding
Military Aircraft Data Requirements
VIP Flights Planning
Rescue Flight Planning
Special Operation Planning and coding
Flight Simulators
Terrain & Obstacle data solutions
Defence Turkey: What can you tell us about KEYVAN Aviation's approach to R&D and its ongoing R&D studies?
Mehmet KEYVAN: KEYVAN Aviation is committed to Aviation Safety and to following the global standard and being able to support customer needs in this challenging world. KEYVAN Aviation is setting up its R&D department and is working on new ideas and projects which could benefit aviation users with new solutions, working with universities and college is a part of the KEYVAN development plan.
Defence Turkey: What can you tell us about KEYVAN Aviation’s export activities? Can we get information about the share of exports in the company's turnover?
Mehmet KEYVAN: Our major customers include avionics (FMS) manufacturers, of which most of them are foreign companies located in Europe and the US. Our other customers are airlines, air operators, flight planning companies for flight planning and route analysis solutions and simulator companies that upload the data into their simulator devices. 90% of our potential customers, those that would benefit from our services are global aviation market players. This is due to the fact that there are only four companies that are approved to supply Aeronautical and Navigation Databases around the world, and we are working to take a good share from the worldwide market by offering better coverage and customer service.
Defence Turkey: What can you say about KEYVAN Aviation's expectations and targets for the next 10 years?
Mehmet KEYVAN: The Turkish aerospace and aviation industry is moving fast and has taken strong steps into the world and KEYVAN Aviation wanted to be a part of this success. KEYVAN Aviation has determined its short and long-term goals since the day it was founded, and we have added them to our strategic road map planning. We strive to be an industry leader in all service areas in which we operate, to produce technology related to these areas, to make the products we offer a sectoral trend in the world, to focus on continuous development, to be an innovative leading and pioneering product excellence center and ultimately to make our brand a worldwide brand. These are KEYVAN Group’s expectations and goals for the next ten years.
Defence Turkey: As we conclude our conversation, is there anything you would like to add or a message you would like to convey to our readers?
Mehmet KEYVAN: In today’s worldwide and challenging situation, after the COVID crisis and with the numerous difficulties that the aviation industry subsequently experienced, this is the time to support each other in the aviation sector to move faster and more forward. KEYVAN Aviation’s main goal is to offer approved global data quality with better coverage and competitive prices and to have close relationships with customers and update products according to customer needs, while staying away from political issues and focusing on service quality and customer satisfaction. We believe in sustainability and our responsibility and our unique role in society, which drives us to inspire others and we aim to positively affect the environment
