TAI General Manager Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu announced that the civil certification process for the domestic general-purpose helicopter GÖKBEY will be completed this month and the vehicle will soon enter the Ministry of Health inventory as an Air Ambulance. Meeting with young engineers at Hacettepe University, Demiroğlu also officially revealed for the first time that the basic agreement for 30 aircraft in the HÜRJET export to Spain could increase up to 45 aircraft, including options.
Türkiye's vision of technological independence is beginning to manifest not only in border security but also in civilian public services. The statements made by TAI General Manager Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu at the KAMP'ÜSS programme revealed the new mission definitions of domestic platforms in civilian life. The GÖKBEY helicopter, drawing attention with its original design, is preparing to take off to save lives after completing its testing and certification phases.
A New Mission for GÖKBEY: Air Ambulance
In aviation, certifying an aircraft to international civil standards is as great an engineering achievement as producing it. Dr. Demiroğlu announced that the basic civil certification process for GÖKBEY, conducted by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM), will be officially completed this month.
Following this historic approval, GÖKBEY will assume special mission configurations. According to Demiroğlu's statements, a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) will be obtained approximately 3-4 months after the basic certification, approving the helicopter's Air Ambulance version. TAI plans to deliver 3 GÖKBEY units by the end of this year, and the first of these platforms will be directly assigned to the Ministry of Health for use as an ambulance helicopter.
10-Ton Water Bomber Helicopter for Forest Fires
TAI's rotorcraft strategy for civilian life is not limited to GÖKBEY. Another visionary project shared by Demiroğlu was a new generation heavy-class helicopter specifically designed for the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM).
This new giant platform, in the approximately 10-ton class, will have a water discharge capacity of 4 tons, suitable for the forest firefighting concept. The helicopter, whose development process is progressing rapidly, is targeted to make its first flight early next year, with deliveries commencing by 2028.
HÜRJET Exports to Spain Grow: Capacity Could Reach 45 Aircraft
An extremely exciting detail regarding the volume of the HÜRJET project, one of Türkiye's largest aviation exports to Europe, was shared during the programme. The export potential for HÜRJET, which is a finalist in the tender opened by the Spanish Air and Space Force to renew its aging training aircraft fleet, is growing steadily.
Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu emphasized that the basic contract on the table with Spain is structured for 30 aircraft, but this agreement includes an option that could increase the number up to 45 aircraft. The prospect of selling up to 45 jet-powered training aircraft to a NATO and European Union country like Spain proves that TAI has entered the same league as global giants in flight physics and aerodynamics.
With GÖKBEY becoming the domestic power of health and forestry organisations, and HÜRJET continuously increasing its volume in the global training jet market, TAI is rising to the position of a game-maker.
