TURKISH AERONAUTICAL ASSOCIATION TO SET UP NEW MAINTENANCE CENTERS FOR PRIVATE PLANES

In an exclusive interview with the AA, Yildirim said that Turkey lost significant amount of money for the maintenance of planes out of the country and that they wanted to find a solution to the problem.
THK has two separate maintenance centers in Ankara and Istanbul. However, these two centers can not serve all private planes in Turkey. We are planning to open new maintenance centers in Istanbul and Antalya, Yildirim said.
We want Turkey to have maintenance centers that would serve private planes coming from the Balkans, Caucasus and the Middle East. THK will lead efforts for the erection of new maintenance centers. We know that Turkey spends a lot of money on maintenance of her planes out of the country. We want the money in Turkey to remain in Turkey. New maintenance centers will also mean new jobs for Turkish citizens, Yildirim said.
Currently, a high number of private planes go abroad for maintenance. The Turkish Airlines (THY) can provide maintenance to their jets in Turkey. However, there is not a major center that can provide maintenance to small private planes. We have two maintenance centers in which we check up on the engines and several other components. Our capacity is not big enough. As such, we decided to open new maintenance centers, Yildirim said.
We intend to establish an aeronautical and space university in Turkey in the future. The Turkish aeronautical sector needs new engineers and technical personnel, Yildirim also said.

-THK-

Turkish Aeronautical Association (Turk Hava Kurumu), or THK, is a non-profit organization with an aim of increasing public awareness and participation in aviation related activities and the national body governing air sports in Turkey. The association was founded with the name "Turk Tayyare Cemiyeti" (Turkish Aeroplane Society) by the directive of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk on February 16, 1925.
During the 1940s it operated a factory in Ankara producing aircraft of its own design as well as under license from British manufacturer Miles. This manufacturing facilities were purchased in 1952 by MKEK, which produced the THK-15 design in quantity under the designation MKEK-4.
THK is a member of Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) since 1929, and has been an active participant in international air sports events and championships, including the organization of the 1st World Air Games hosted by THK in 1997.