‘The rst goal we want to achieve with
our training is to have expert weapons
systems o cers [WSOs]. The next
step will then be training as a pilot on
the T129.’
The situation within Turkey changed
dramatically on July 15, 2016, following
the failed coup attempt. It led to a
massive reduction in manning. In
October 2016, gures published by
the Turkish Armed Forces showed just
355,212 personnel, down from 518,166
in June that year. Army Cobras, S-70s and
Hueys from Güvercinlik were used by
some of the plotters, with uncon rmed
rumors that a number of these
helicopters were destroyed.
The Army Aviation School was planned
to move to Isparta in early 2017. This
appears to have occurred, with the
Attack Squadron transferring to Malaty.Training time
During Combat Aircraft’s visit to
Güvercinlik, ve training classes were
running. The demand for new army
aviators is higher than ever. Brig Gen
Ünsal Coskun says, ‘The new program
consists of three periods of six months.
Students start with basic training [in the
Cessna C182T and the AB-206R], which
is followed by an advanced phase [in the
UH-1H/AB205] and is completed with
combat battle-readiness training either
on the S-70A-28D or the xed-wing
Cessna T-42A or Cessna 421C. The rst
solo ight is at around 20-30 ight hours
of training. After the combat-readiness
phase pilots are capable to join one of the
operational units.
‘We deliver combat-ready pilots
directly to the units after their 18
months’ training. Then they are capablein night ying, mountain ying and
operations over water. It is a real tough
program to get through. As a result of our
new training approach there is no need
for a transition phase for a graduated
combat-ready pilot when assigned to a
speci c operational unit — this works
e ciently for all of us.’
The Turkish Army on average has a need
for about 110 new pilots each year. ‘In
order to be able to execute all our tasks
we have a group of 84 instructor pilots
who are involved in the basic training
or are tasked as maintenance test pilots,’
says Coskun. The army school also covers
requirements for the navy (Türk Deniz
Kuvvetleri), military police (Türk Jandarma
Havaçilik Komutanligi) and coast guard
(Sahil Güvenlik Komutanlığı).Above: Each
army regiment
has a search and
rescue company
attached with a
sole S-70A-28
assigned.
Below left:
All students
graduate fi rst on
the Cessna T182T
Skylane before
moving on to
rotary training on
the AB-206R and
Iroquois.
Right page,
bottom left to
right: On average,
the Turkish Army
has a demand
for about 110 new
pilots each year.
One of the
school’s
experienced
instructors
greets his young
students for the
day’s fl ying.FORCE REPORT // TURKISH ARMY AVIATION
80-87 Turkish Army C.indd 86 19/01/2018 17:13