Turkish domestic jet ‘ready in 2014’

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

An instructor, who works for the Turkish Aviation Board is seen in a training plane in this file photo. DHA photo

Turkey’s first domestic airplane will be ready for take-off by 2014, the Turkish Aviation Board (THK) president has said, according to daily Milliyet. 

More than 90 percent of the plane parts will be manufactured in Turkey, Osman Yıldırım said.

“The team we have brought together at the [newly opened] THK University will be conducting the system integration [of the plane]. The parts, most of which are being manufactured in Turkey, will be assembled, and that will be the plane that THK produces,” he said. 

Plane factory ready in May

THK will start producing four-seater planes for a start, he said Feb. 16, adding that the related software would be written by THK University. 

He said a THK Plane Factory will be inaugurated in May while noting that one of last year’s accomplishments was opening of the university. 

Speaking on the services and activities of the aviation institution, he said, “We have conducted parachuting and flight trainings all around the country.” 

There have been 305,000 total trainees, he said, adding that THK purchased 16 new planes, 14 for education and two for firefighting practice.