Kulaçoğlu: Türkiye needs more small airfields for sport aviation

Kulaçoğlu came to Samsun as part of the Georgia Special Pilot Expedition 2026 and said that around 150 people in Türkiye are actively involved in sport aviation. He said the number of aircraft in Türkiye was around 200 to 250 and stressed the need for more small airports and airstrips.

Scraper SystemSeptember 12, 2026, 09:40 PM

Kulaçoğlu: Türkiye needs more small airfields for sport aviation

Kulaçoğlu said in Samsun, where he arrived as part of the Georgia Special Pilot Expedition 2026, that sport aviation is not yet sufficiently known among broad segments of society in Türkiye, although awareness of the field has increased in recent years.

Stating that sport aviation is not limited to flight activities, Kulaçoğlu said the field also supports technical personnel, ground services, aviation software, information technologies and various professional groups. He added that progress in these areas would follow as sport aviation develops.

Infrastructure shortage remains a major issue

Kulaçoğlu said one of the most important challenges facing sport aviation in Türkiye was the lack of infrastructure, adding that security and operational conditions at major airports created certain limitations for sport aviation activities.

Kulaçoğlu said the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation had taken a more favorable approach toward sport aviation in recent years. He added that the support of these institutions was being felt more strongly and that problems could be communicated more easily. Kulaçoğlu said sport aviation was developing in Türkiye, but that the country still had a long way to go compared with Europe.

Kulaçoğlu said AOPA Türkiye had around 60 members, while approximately 150 people in Türkiye were actively involved in sport aviation. He said the number of such aircraft in Türkiye was around 200 to 250, compared with 75,000 to 80,000 worldwide.

Goal is to introduce young people to aviation

Kulaçoğlu stressed that the number of small airports and airstrips should be increased to support the development of sport aviation. He said opening suitable areas owned by municipalities to aviation activities could provide an important opportunity.

Kulaçoğlu said there were seven or eight areas of this kind in Türkiye and that sport aviation activities could be conducted more easily if 20 to 25 small airstrips were established in the short term. He said these airstrips could be 500 to 600 meters long and highlighted the importance of giving young people the opportunity to become familiar with aircraft.

Kulaçoğlu said young people might not be able to approach aircraft at major airports because of technical and security requirements. He added that young people could see and learn about aircraft and experience flying at sport aviation facilities. Kulaçoğlu said this interest could eventually contribute to the training of pilots, aircraft technicians, ground staff or other aviation professionals.

Can also be used in disasters and emergencies

Kulaçoğlu said sport aviation could also contribute during disasters and emergencies. He said small aircraft had been used for relief and observation activities in the past, adding that increasing interest in aviation would also support the development of various professional groups.

Kulaçoğlu: Türkiye needs more small airfields for sport aviation