Good News for D-8 Civil Aviation: Turkey becomes business jet center

Istanbul, Turkey | September 06, 2007 by D-8 Secretariat

While D-8 Director Generals of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is scheduled to meet this weekend for 2nd DGCA Meeting in Isfahan, Iran, a worthy news in aviation business is revealed as Turkey becomes business jet center, as reported by the Turkish Daily News.

Recent years of major growth in Turkish aviation sector has made Turkey a new hub for business jets and helicopters in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Air taxi companies in Turkey are ordering new business jets; some of them exceed $40 million.

Although the sector shrank due to the economic crisis in 2001, it has maintained its growth since 2004. Experts point out that the growth will continue, and it is predicted that at least 50 more planes and helicopters will come to Turkey in the upcoming three years.

According to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM), there are currently 192 air vehicles in 57 air taxi companies in Turkey. These consist of 133 planes, 31 helicopters, 23 light air vehicles and five balloons. The sector looks like being more active next year, as 12 companies have applied to the SHGM for flight permission.

On the top of the list of the business jets ordered in Turkey are the Bombardier Global Express XRS, which worth approximately $42-52 million and the Dassault Falcon 7X worth $47 million. XRS, ordered by Çukurova Group, will be handed over in 2009. Palmali, on the other hand, will include 7X in its fleet by 2011.

The other business jets on the list include the Cessna Mustang, that worth $2.6 million and Eclipse 500, that worth $2 million. Atasay Group placed a record order of 180 Eclipse 500’s, and delivery will start in 2008. Atasay plans to sell these planes to countries in the Balkans, Middle East and Central Asia apart from Turkey and provide air taxi services with its aviation company that it will establish with its Dutch partner ETIRC.

Business jet maintenance centers started to emerge as a result of the increasing number of planes. Following Ankara-based EmAir Company, which has provided services for Cessna planes for years, Palmali Group in Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport is now establishing a maintenance center for the French Dassault’s Falcon series business jets. The center will begin operating in October will provide services with its $2 million replacement part stock also to Falcon series business jets. Palmali Group continues its preparations to maintain Hawker planes under its partnership with Jet Aviation from Zurich.

Middle class business jets are experiencing the most rapid growth. With the increase in flights, businessmen prefer planes with a wider body and longer range. There are new models like the Falcon 2000LX, Challenger 605 and smaller models Hawker 4000 and 900XP and Cessna Sovereign in this class.

Following the election of Abdullah Gül as president, the issue of new plane purchases is also on the agenda. To conduct all flights from a joint pool by uniting the fleets of the president and prime ministry is among the plans.

The rapid growth in the helicopter market, which includes competition among giants such as Agusta Westland, Bell, Eurocopter, Sikorsky, also draws attention. Medium and wide body helicopters are gaining ground in the market, in which smaller models used to enter. However, the fact that the waiting period lasts two to three years for helicopters just like for business jets leads businessmen to opt for second hand or rental. Thanks to this new option, the regulation of which was prepared by the SHGM, businessmen will not have to establish an aviation company, find flight crew, and deal with the organization of maintenance and trainings themselves. The planes purchased by leasing them will be given to companies known as “Aircraft Management” that will deal with the management of planes and helicopters in a more professional and economical manner.

D-8 Secretariat has already noted these development as her reference, and shall discuss it with D-8 Director Generals of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in the 2nd DGCA Meeting in Isfahan, Iran, as a form of activities and experiences-sharing to formulate ideas on the the cooperation in Flight Safety and Security, Environment, Quality and Training for D-8 mutual benefit in aviation sectors.

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