Turkish Airline Owned Flight Academy Welcomes 28 New Pilots in August 2024

Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA), a flight training organisation and subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, announced that 28 pilot candidates from the 130th squadron of the Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA) commenced their training in August 2024. TAFA General Manager İbrahim Zeki Akyurt announced that this new batch is expected to graduate before the end of 2025.

TAFA celebrated its 12th anniversary in June 2024, as well as celebrating its 113th graduation which resulted in 150 pilots joining Turkish Airlines from the Academy this year.

"We are taking firm steps towards our goal of 280 graduates this year." shared Dr. İbrahim Zeki Akyurt, TAFA General Manager.

The academy continues to expand, in addition to Aydın Çıldır Airport - its main base, TAFA announced flight training operations at Uşak Airport with 17 employees and 6 training aircraft.

Over the last few years TAFA has been investing significantly into its pilot training infrastructure including:

• Turkish Airlines Flight Academy Places Order for 13 Additional Diamond Aircraft and 2 Simulators in July 2024
• Placed an order for 2 ALSIM AL172 simulators in June 2024
• Took delivery of two new Diamond DA42 multi-engine aircraft in May 2024
• In 2023 TAFA took delivery of 10 brand new Cessna 172S training aircraft to grow its fleet of Cessna 172S to 24 aircraft. In addition in 2023 Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA) signed an agreement with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for 20 single-engine training aircraft.
• "As we prepare to carry our brand further within the scope of our vision for the next 10 years, it makes us all proud to see the high level of domestic and national opportunities and capabilities," said Ahmet Bolat, Chairman at Turkish Airlines. "Our pilots to be trained with our aircraft to be produced by TAI will bring us closer to the fleet target of 800 aircraft, which we aim to have in 2033."

Source: Turkish Airlines Flight Academy Photo Credit:: Turkish Airlines Flight Academy