Signatures Appended for the Certificate of Airworthiness
The Protocol concerning the Activities for the Certificate of Airworthiness was signed in a ceremony at the Vecihi Hürkuş Hall of the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries with the participation of representatives from the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM) and STM.
Deputy Undersecretary of the SSM Dr. Celal Sami Tüfekçi stated that as part of the second stage of the regional aircraft project, the design and production of a second type aircraft through national resources was envisioned and said, “Thus we will be considered as a country taking a great leap in the aerospace area”.
The aforementioned protocol was signed by the Deputy Undersecretary for Defence Industries Dr. Celal Sami Tüfekçi and Acting Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications, Mr. Özkan Poyraz. The Protocol concerning the activities regarding the Certificate of Airworthiness signed between the SSM and SHGM enables the certificate of airworthiness for civilian flights conducted within the scope of the projects executed by the SSM, mainly the “Hürkuş” Basic Trainer Aircraft and Indigenous Helicopters to be conducted through national resources, development of infrastructure and expertise of civil certification in Turkey and their recognition by the certification authorities of other countries and increasing the export potential of the air platforms, engines, propellers and their parts developed in Turkey.
Acting Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Mr. Özkan Poyraz expressed that they believed that this protocol would contribute to the certification processes regarding the regional civilian aircraft project. Underlining that the design and production capabilities required the support with certification, Poyraz continued “I hope this process will help the creation of an expertise and know-how that covers all processes from composing designs in civil aviation in Turkey that would be labelled as “national” to certification, from beginning to the end”.
SSM initiated its certificate of military airworthiness efforts in 2007 with the C-130 Modernization (Erciyes) Project and in August 2014 Turkey’s first certificate was granted.
Meanwhile, airworthiness certification activities are being conducted for the following projects; the Development of a National Task Computer (ÖZGÜR) Programme, New Generation Basic Trainer Aircraft (Hürkuş-B) Project, Operative UAV Engine Development Programme. Besides, the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries is participating in the military airworthiness certification activities conducted for the international projects such as Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and A400M Strategıc Transport Aircraft Programme.
