with Alenia Aermacchi. The
company (now part of Leonardo)
was prime contractor, while TAI
was responsible for structural
modifications and electrical
alterations as well as tests as a
main sub-contractor. Modifications
included strengthened wings
for stores carriage.
The ATR 72 received the same
AMASCOS-300 as used in the
CN235 MPA. Other sub-systems
that were integrated included
electro-optical sensors, ESM
sensors, MAD, sonobuoy system,
chaff/flares, and radar/missile/laser
warning systems. Pylons added on
each side of the fuselage enabled
carriage of torpedoes. With its
new-generation communication
equipment, the aircraft can share
data in real time with ground
control and other platforms.
TAI and Turkish companies
including Havelsan and Aselsan
took part in the development
and construction of some of the
systems, such as the fuselage door
designed to be opened in flight.
Two observer seats were also
outfitted with teardrop windows.
According to the agreement, the
first aircraft was to be delivered
in 2010 with final deliveries within
two years. However, as of 2012,
no aircraft had been completed.
Ankara sought to revise the
contract with Alenia Aermacchi and
reduced the order to eight aircraft.
Furthermore, two of these would
be delivered to the navy without
mission equipment, for general use.
The remaining six aircraft would
now be ATR 72-600s. The 600
series has an increased operating
weight, improved performance
thanks to more powerful Pratt &
Whitney Canada PW127 engines,
more modern flight instruments
and lower maintenance costs.
The revised agreement was
signed by Alenia Aermacchi
and the SSM in May 2013.
The two ATR 72-600 Turkish
Maritime Utility Aircraft (TMUA)
were provided with new radio and
identification friend or foe (IFF)
antennas and a reconfigurable
cabin for passengers or cargo.
Conversion from ATR 72-500 to
600 was carried out at Alenia
Aermacchi’s facilities in Naples-
Capodichino, Italy. Pilots and
crew received training at the
company’s headquarters in
Casella, Italy. The first TMUA,
TCB-701, was handed over in July
2013 and the second in August- Both serve with 301 Filo.
The first of the six aircraft to be
converted to ATR 72-600 Turkish
Maritime Patrol Aircraft (TMPA)
standard arrived at TAI’s facilities
in Akıncı, Ankara in April 2013.
TAI converted the aircraft to full
MPA specification and it returned
to air for a test flight in July 2014.
Final trials work continues in
Italy, while work on the remaining
TMPAs is ongoing in Ankara.Coast Guard
Turkey’s Sahil Güvenlik Komutanlığı
(Coast Guard Command) was
established in July 1982. In
November 1992, a Coast Guard
Air Group Command stood up
as its air component. The latter
was located at Cengiz Topel
NAS, alongside the Turkish Naval
Aviation Command. Its initial
equipment consisted of three
Augusta-Bell AB206 helicopters
sourced from the Gendarmerie.
In 1993 a single-engine Maule
MX-7 was added to the inventory
as the Coast Guard’s first fixed-
wing aircraft. Four years later,
AB412EP helicopters were ordered
for SAR duties and in December1999 the command was renamed
Sahil Güvenlik Hava Komutanlığı
(Coast Guard Air Command).
Operations continued at Cengiz
Topel NAS until 2001, when the
growing rotary fleet and the order
for three CN235s under Meltem I
prompted a move to newly built
facilities at Izmir Adnan Menderes
Airport. This is now home to Coast
Guard Air Command Headquarters
and separate hangars for fixed-
wing and helicopter maintenance.
In 2009 the Samsun Coast
Guard Command and Antalya
Air Group Command were
added to the organisation.
The Coast Guard Air Command
answers to the Ministry of
Internal Affairs. It is responsible
for SAR operations, surveillance
and maritime monitoring
along Turkey’s 5,178-mile
(8,333km) coastline, and within
a sea area of 145,836sq miles
(377,714km^2 ). The command’s
duties include preventing illegal
fishing and smuggling. Recently,
it has increasingly focused on
stopping people trafficking
and illegal immigration.
The Coast Guard Air Command
recruits its aviation personnel
from within its own ranks.
Qualifying candidates selected
to become helicopter pilots are
sent to the aviation school at
the 2. Ana Jet Üs (2nd Main Jet
Base) at Izmir. Those chosen
to be fixed-wing pilots go to the
flight school at Army Central
Command in Etimesgut, Ankara.
Non-flying aircrew receive
their education at SAR training
centres run by the air force.
The command has announced
plans to add six unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) to its inventory
by 2019 and also aims to acquire
medium-lift helicopters in the future.
Onur Kurç and Tayfun YaşarSahil Güvenlik Hava
Komutanlığı fl eet
Type Serial
CN235 MSA TCSG-551
CN235 MSA TCSG-552
CN235 MSA TCSG-553ORBAT
Unit Aircraft Base
Sabit Kanat
Filosu (Fixed-
Wing Squadron)CN235
MSAIzmir
Adnan
MenderesInventory
Aircraft Number
CN235 MSA 3Above: An operator workstation on board a Coast Guard CN235 MSA. The
mission consoles are the same as those in the Turkish Navy’s CN235 MPA, but
there are two, rather than four. Onur Kurç and Tayfun YaşarAbove: CN235 MSA serial TCSG-553 powers up. These three aircraft were originally delivered in a basic transport
confi guration, between May 2001 and February 2002. Onur Kurç and Tayfun Yaşar
42 // JUNE 2018 #363 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com
European MPAs Part 5
Fleet
Survey