The 7th edition of the Istanbul Flight Training Exhibition (IFTE), recognized as Türkiye’s largest aviation training and career fair, took place from May 9-11, 2025, at Istanbul Atatürk Airport’s C Terminal. The IFTE 2025 Fair, attended by thousands of aviation enthusiasts, was officially opened on May 9 with a ceremony featuring Prof. Dr. Kemal Yüksek, Director General of Civil Aviation.  

Supported by the State Airports Authority (DHMİ) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the fair provided a platform to closely follow the latest advancements in aviation education technologies, career opportunities, and current developments in the sector. The event hosted leading airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, and SunExpress, alongside over 70 domestic and international flight schools, universities, aviation high schools, aviation and simulator training companies, and other key organizations in the aviation industry.  

The Fair brought together industry professionals from various fields, including air traffic controllers, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, airline managers, and aviation instructors, with aviation enthusiasts, offering opportunities to share knowledge and experiences. Panels held during the event covered topics such as flight training processes, pilot licensing stages, training costs, Multi-Crew Pilot License (MPL) programs, international aviation regulations, and aviation human resources.  

IFTE 2025 also showcased technological advancements in the aviation sector, featuring innovative approaches such as digital training platforms and augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)-supported training solutions. 

Blackshape S.p.A., an aircraft manufacturer under the Italian high-tech industrial group Angel Holding, which operates in the railway, aerospace, and digital mechatronics sectors, introduced its next-generation training aircraft, the Gabriel BK160-200, designed for general-purpose use, for the first time in Türkiye during the IFTE 2025 Fair. The company announced its readiness to explore various collaboration opportunities, including technology transfer and licensed production, in line with its international growth strategy aimed at creating long-term industrial synergies. Another Italian training aircraft manufacturer, TECNAM, participated in IFTE 2025 alongside its Turkish representative, Eker Aviation. The increasing number of TECNAM training aircraft in Türkiye in recent years has garnered significant attention. Under the Aircraft Procurement (PORSUK) Project Protocol, initiated to meet the needs of the Aviation Department of the General Directorate of Security (EGM HvDB), the Secretariat of Defense Industries facilitated the delivery of seven newly manufactured training aircraft through STM. These included five TECNAM P2010 MkII single-engine training aircraft and two Diamond DA42 twin-engine training aircraft, handed over to the Pilotage Department of Eskişehir Technical University (ESTÜ) in exchange for two King Air C90-GTi aircraft. The delivery ceremony took place on September 5, 2024.  

During the opening ceremony of the fair, Murat Herdem, General Coordinator of the organizing company Alfa Fuarcılık, delivered a brief speech, expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the State Airports Authority (DHMİ) for their support. “This year, the 7th edition of IFTE 2025 brings the industry together with young people who see their future in aviation. We have expanded the fair this year, with increased participation and even greater support from the sector. The three-day event has attracted significant interest. Flight schools, universities, and airlines are all here together. The fair highlights the significant potential to address Türkiye’s need for a skilled workforce,” he said.  

Prof. Dr. Kemal Yüksek, Director General of Civil Aviation, emphasized in his speech that the DGCA continues to play a pivotal role in regulating the aviation sector through its oversight and regulatory responsibilities. “IFTE holds special significance for me as it was the first training fair I attended after entering the aviation sector, and it is an event I consistently follow and make an effort to participate in,” he noted. He dedicated a significant portion of his speech to the New Civil Aviation Model, which he described as the DGCA’s institutional transformation. This model, which he has also presented on international platforms, outlines its objectives and the vision for this transformation.

In his speech, Prof. Dr. Kemal Yüksek, Director General of Civil Aviation, shared insights about the New Civil Aviation Model, stating: “What exactly is this New Civil Aviation Model? What does this new vision or approach offer us? Where will it take our country? The most critical aspect of an institution’s transformation lies in the training processes, licensing, and certification, which are embodied here at this fair. Regardless of the institution or sector, this is where it all begins. Without proper licenses and certifications, all operations built upon them become inadequate and ineffective. Therefore, the determining factor has always been education. If you recall, in recent incidents in the United States, often referred to as the cradle of aviation, the inadequate training of air traffic controllers was highlighted as a primary concern. Whenever an incident or safety issue arises, the first thing scrutinized is the training of those involved.  

So, what does the New Civil Aviation Model bring compared to the previous system, in a way that we can all understand? In our traditional civil aviation approach, training institutions were authorized and audited by civil aviation authorities. Instructors were authorized and evaluated, and training content was approved and inspected. However, if we reflect on how these processes were conducted in the past, it’s not difficult to identify numerous shortcomings.  

What are these shortcomings? Let me start with the content. The lack of standardized content, its non-compliance with international regulations, and the inability to ensure its currency have been among the primary issues. When it comes to the authorization of instructors, the expectations from instructors were not clearly defined. As a result, the criteria and systems for evaluating instructors have been flawed, because we are talking about a framework that does not know what to evaluate, how, and why.  

In the previous system, particularly in evaluation and examination processes, issues such as repetitive questions from the same sections, identical or exposed questions, and other negative practices were common. These weaknesses in training the most critical asset of this sector—human capital—have led to undesirable accidents and incidents. Is this New Civil Aviation Model a response to problems unique to Türkiye? No. These issues are experienced in various parts of the world, including the United States, as I mentioned earlier.”

“So, what is our greatest responsibility as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)? It is to manage this process. What is the key determining factor in the New Civil Aviation Model? The primary factor is the establishment and oversight of standards and quality by the authority through service provision. The core function of civil aviation is regulation and oversight. However, there is no rule prohibiting or preventing the authority from providing services. This approach—enhancing oversight through service provision—is what’s new. How do we provide services while conducting this oversight?  

We previously mentioned content. We are placing full responsibility for ensuring that content is standardized and up-to-date on the DGCA. In other words, we are centralizing training content. This applies specifically to the training required for credentials overseen by the authority. These training programs are managed centrally within the DGCA and provided to aviation training institutions. What have we achieved? We have delivered a service.  

No aviation training institution is now responsible for updating an introductory aviation course or a meteorology course to reflect changes made by ICAO. Why? Because a single, standardized content is provided. What are the characteristics of this content? We focus on producing clear, distinct, and purpose-driven training content, delivering it to the sector, and ensuring its sustainability. This means the sector will function with an authority that encompasses all content it oversees, authorizes, and regulates.  

What about instructors? The role of instructors has been redefined for this era. In today’s world, instructors will act as coaches, serving as support personnel. Since the content is structured in a digital format with short video animations and interactive elements, it facilitates self-learning and teaching in the desired format and quality. Learners can master the portions they are capable of learning independently. Through assessments, their weaknesses are identified, and these evaluations are conducted independently of the instructor. Subsequently, instructors provide coaching to address these deficiencies using the same content. Finally, a digital system is implemented to evaluate the difference between the initial and final assessments, tracking this as a measure of instructor performance.”

“This approach ensures that instructors operate within a system that measures their true contributions based on the value they add. The requirements for authorizing instructors are significantly reduced compared to the past. I can now state clearly that interviews and oral exams have been entirely eliminated at all levels of civil aviation, and this will remain the case moving forward. Everything will be offered to the entire sector and all students in a transparent, measurable, and trackable format.  

In this context, an instructor’s eligibility is determined by their success in the relevant course. Their contributions are then tracked through each session. If an instructor’s contribution falls below the desired level—whether they are an associate professor at a university, a professor, or an industry veteran with decades of experience—they will no longer be assigned training duties, as it becomes evident that they can no longer fulfill the role of an instructor. We are all human, and over time, certain competencies may weaken or diminish. It is our responsibility to ensure that these shortcomings do not impact our students or aviation enthusiasts. This is also a key responsibility of the authority.  

Our students can access a platform using their E-Devlet password, where they can view all licenses and credentials available in the sector. They can see exactly which training programs are required to obtain credentials such as pilot, technician, or air traffic controller. They can review the content of these programs and understand what they need to do to succeed.  

These training programs will largely be delivered through our existing aviation training institutions. Naturally, this involves a transition period, during which current practices will continue for a time. The direction this takes will depend on the preferences of companies aiming to meet the sector’s personnel needs, and it will settle into place over time. We are not taking a rigid stance during this transition. However, since selections will be based on quality and verifiable assessments, I believe all training institutions will adapt to this system in a very short time.  

Through this approach, we are effectively turning training organizations into branches of this system. We are also regulating our relationships with the Ministry of National Education, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), and private training providers. Each has its own approach, and we are responsible for managing these as well. To our student friends, as the Director General of Civil Aviation, I say this: In a very short time, whether through our training institutions or the ecosystem established by the DGCA based on need, we are providing you with a platform that offers access to every opportunity.  

What does this mean? All our students will have clear visibility into the criteria for obtaining any credential they aspire to in the aviation sector—whether it’s becoming a pilot, technician, or air traffic controller. Upon completing the required training, their licenses will be issued automatically without needing to apply to us. This refers to a diploma license. For example, in the case of pilot training, this involves completing theoretical courses followed by practical training. Moving forward, practical training will no longer be conducted by our check pilots; it will be handled by instructors and practical training personnel.”

“Through our mobile application, evaluation processes will be integrated into our system using a behind-the-ear camera, ensuring that all activities are centrally and uniformly monitored. This new Civil Aviation platform thus ensures accessibility and availability for everyone, including those in the most remote corners of Türkiye. Everyone will have access to this system.  

We are also introducing significant cost advantages. For theoretical training, we will set a standard price. For instance, if we require 14 or 20 courses for pilot training, whether these are provided through the DGCA’s platform or in-person by training institutions, we will fix the cost of each course annually. For this year, we have set it at 4,000 TRY per course. This means that for 20 courses, the theoretical training cost for an aspiring pilot will be 80,000 TRY, or approximately 2,000 USD.  

What about the practical component? For practical training, providers—depending on their number and quality—will set their own prices. This could range from 3,000 USD to 5,000 USD per student, but it will not reach 50,000 USD. Our expectation is that a citizen who completes theoretical training through our platform and training institutions will be able to obtain a basic civil aviation pilot license—without type rating—for a total cost of around 20,000–22,000 USD. This applies to the license itself. To become a pilot, additional requirements such as medical examinations and type training will still apply.  

Type training is also being standardized under the New Civil Aviation Model, eliminating arbitrariness and dependency on specific companies. Companies can then provide their own customized training to pilots who have completed this base training. There is no barrier to this…”