A New Breath to Amateur Aviation with the Air Campus Application
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu made important statements about the air campus application initiated by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM). Emphasizing that the rapidly developing aviation sector is one of the most important indicators of social welfare, Uraloğlu highlighted the progress Turkey has made in the field of civil aviation.
Uraloğlu said, “We have taken great steps in aviation in the last 22 years. With the investments and breakthroughs we have made in line with the vision of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we have become one of the important players in civil aviation worldwide. Our airline companies have grown and become stronger. Our aim is to train the aviation professionals of the future at the Turkish Civil Aviation Academy “To equip it with modern facilities and educational tools,” he said.
Minister Uraloğlu stated that the air campus application aims to develop amateur and sports aviation and relieve traffic at airports. He also stated that this application will be widespread throughout Türkiye.
Uraloğlu emphasized that they aim to make Turkey an important center in the world in amateur and sports aviation. “With the air campus application, we offer our amateur and sportive aviators areas including vertiports where manned or unmanned aerial vehicles capable of vertical landing and take-off, such as fixed-wing aircraft weighing up to 5,700 kilograms, can land and take off under “The responsibility of the pilot, in airports or areas that are not heliports.” he said
Stating that increasing the number of areas where aircraft can land and take off will enable flights to be carried out without being affected by the complexity and density of procedures at airports, Uraloğlu stated that this will contribute to the development of amateur aviation and eliminate the need for landing areas for pilot training.
Uraloğlu stated that airspace can be defined for flights upon request and that there will be no need to submit a flight plan, provided that they stay in this defined area. He also pointed out that Aviation Information Publication (AIP) procedures will be applied for flights outside the airspace and a flight plan will be submitted.
Stating that air campus applications will be made to DGCA, Uraloğlu stated that there is no need to re-apply for landing areas that were given permission to use before this application, and that these areas will be defined as “air campus”.
Minister Uraloğlu summarized the points that should be taken into consideration before applying as follows:
- When choosing a location for the air campus that it plans to build, the applicant should choose areas where obstacle criteria can be maintained so that the structures to be built in the future do not negatively affect landing and take-off operations.
- In order for fixed wing aircraft operations to be carried out safely, an obstacle-free airspace must be created.
- It is extremely important to meet obstacle criteria in air campuses and maintain them throughout the operation.
Operators will complete the construction of the air campus within 3 years from the date of receiving the permission.
Uraloğlu emphasized that those who want to build an air campus should first determine the location and that the selected location should be suitable for landing and take-off, and stated that the General Staff will monitor the application for national security, and the governorships will monitor the impact of the campuses on people and the environment.
Stating that air campuses can be opened if a positive evaluation is made, Uraloğlu said that operators must complete the construction of air campuses within 3 years from the date they receive the permission. He stated that if the campuses are not completed within this period, the permits will be canceled.
Uraloğlu said, “Permits for campuses to be used for commercial purposes will be valid for 1 year and the permit will need to be extended at the end of each year. There will be no need to extend the permit for campuses where fixed-wing aircraft “With a take-off weight of less than 5,700 kilograms belonging to individuals other than commercial purposes will be parked. Campuses that are found to be harmful. Their permits may be canceled by DGCA.” he added.
