Ankara Güvercinlik Army Air Base
Encyclopedia
Ankara Güvercinlik Army Air Base, is a military airport of the Turkish Army
located in Güvercinlik of Etimesgut
district, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Ankara
in central Turkey
.
The air base hosts General Staff controlled units, General Command of Mapping
's aviation unit, Army Aviation School, 1st Army Aviation Regiment and Ankara Gendarmerie Aviation Group. The airport is open to general aviation
for civil domestic flights with permission.
(THY), in 1933, regular domestic passenger flights started the same year between Ankara and Istanbul
via a stopover in Eskişehir
. The airport in Güvercinlik became the first airport of Ankara.
In 1935, a training and a maintenance service center were established by the Turkish Aeronautical Association
at the airport. The center, called Türkkuşu (for "Türkish Bird"), carried out revision services to the DHY in two hangars until its relocation to the nearby airport in Etimesgut
in 1945.
On February 13, 1947, the first international passenger flight of the DHY departed from the Güvercinlik Airport for Athens
via Istanbul.
Güvercinlik Airport served for the city of Ankara 22 years until 1955 when the civil flights were transferred to the newly completed Esenboğa Airport. Maintenance facilities were relocated to Istanbul Yeşilköy Airport
the same year.
The Army Aviation School (Kara Havacılık Okulu), which was established in 1948 at the Turkish Army's Artillery School in Polatlı
to train pilots and flight equipment technicians for reconnaissance aircraft
and helicopter
s of the army and the gendarmerie, was deployed in 1958 to Güvercinlik Airport.
Following the re-establishment of the aviation branch of the Turkish Navy
in 1968, the first naval helicopter pilots were trained by the Army Aviation Command's flight school at the Güvercinlik Army Air Base.
. Civil aircraft, foreign flagged or Turkish, may make use of the maintenance facilities at the base with permission. Aircraft with any foreigner crew member, however, need to obtain a special permission to use the facilities. No staying overnight is allowed at the airport.
departed on February 17, 1993 from the Güvercinlik Air Base aboard a Beechcraft B200
for an official trip. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. Bitlis, his aide-de-camp, the pilots and a technician were killed.
The pilot, who had VIP green card certification for excellence in flying, had switched the airplanes before the flight after having realized that the cockpit was not in order. The statement of the Chief of the General Staff, Gen. Doğan Güreş, that the accident on that snowy day was caused by atmospheric icing
was denied by the crash investigators.
Turkish Army
The Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...
located in Güvercinlik of Etimesgut
Etimesgut
Etimesgut or Etimesut, formerly Ahimesut, is a metropolitan district of Ankara Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, mainly consisting of large public housing projects, from Ankara city centre. According to 2010 census, population of Etimesgut is 386,879...
district, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
in central Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
The air base hosts General Staff controlled units, General Command of Mapping
General Command of Mapping (Turkey)
The General Command of Mapping is the national mapping agency of Turkey under the Ministry of National Defense and is responsible for the official topographical mapping of the country in both hard-copy and digital forms.-Function:...
's aviation unit, Army Aviation School, 1st Army Aviation Regiment and Ankara Gendarmerie Aviation Group. The airport is open to general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
for civil domestic flights with permission.
History
With the foundation of the Turkish State Airlines Enterprise (DHY), the predecessor of the Turkish AirlinesTurkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines is the national flag carrier airline of Turkey, headquartered in the Turkish Airlines General Management Building on the grounds of Atatürk Airport in Yeşilköy, Bakirköy district, Istanbul...
(THY), in 1933, regular domestic passenger flights started the same year between Ankara and Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
via a stopover in Eskişehir
Eskisehir
Eskişehir is a city in northwestern Turkey and the capital of the Eskişehir Province. According to the 2009 census, the population of the city is 631,905. The city is located on the banks of the Porsuk River, 792 m above sea level, where it overlooks the fertile Phrygian Valley. In the nearby...
. The airport in Güvercinlik became the first airport of Ankara.
In 1935, a training and a maintenance service center were established by the Turkish Aeronautical Association
Turkish Aeronautical Association
Turkish Aeronautical Association is a non-profit organization with an aim of increasing public awareness and participation in aviation related activities and the national body governing air sports in Turkey...
at the airport. The center, called Türkkuşu (for "Türkish Bird"), carried out revision services to the DHY in two hangars until its relocation to the nearby airport in Etimesgut
Etimesgut
Etimesgut or Etimesut, formerly Ahimesut, is a metropolitan district of Ankara Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, mainly consisting of large public housing projects, from Ankara city centre. According to 2010 census, population of Etimesgut is 386,879...
in 1945.
On February 13, 1947, the first international passenger flight of the DHY departed from the Güvercinlik Airport for Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
via Istanbul.
Güvercinlik Airport served for the city of Ankara 22 years until 1955 when the civil flights were transferred to the newly completed Esenboğa Airport. Maintenance facilities were relocated to Istanbul Yeşilköy Airport
Atatürk International Airport
Atatürk International Airport is the major international airport in Istanbul, Turkey. Opened in 1924 and located in Yeşilköy, on the European side of the city, it is west of the city centre. In 1980, the airport was renamed to Atatürk International Airport in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the...
the same year.
The Army Aviation School (Kara Havacılık Okulu), which was established in 1948 at the Turkish Army's Artillery School in Polatlı
Polatli
Polatlı is a city and a district in Ankara Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, 80 km west of the Turkish capital Ankara, on the road to Eskişehir. According to 2010 census, population of the district is 117,473 of which 98,605 live in the city of Polatlı...
to train pilots and flight equipment technicians for reconnaissance aircraft
Reconnaissance aircraft
A reconnaissance aircraft is a manned military aircraft designed, or adapted, to carry out aerial reconnaissance.-History:The majority of World War I aircraft were reconnaissance designs...
and helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s of the army and the gendarmerie, was deployed in 1958 to Güvercinlik Airport.
Following the re-establishment of the aviation branch of the Turkish Navy
Turkish Navy
The Turkish Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces.- Ottoman fleet after Mudros :Following the demise of the Ottoman Empire in the aftermath of World War I, on November 3, 1918, the fleet commander of the Ottoman Navy, Liva Amiral Arif Pasha, ordered all flags to be...
in 1968, the first naval helicopter pilots were trained by the Army Aviation Command's flight school at the Güvercinlik Army Air Base.
Legal status
Currently, the air base is owned and operated by the Turkish Army. However, the military airport is open to general aviation for non-scheduled civil domestic flights only with permission according to a "Protocol on the Use of Military Airports by Civil Aviation" signed on July 22, 2002, between the Turkish General Staff and the Ministry of TransportMinistry of Transport (Turkey)
The Ministry of Transport and Communication is a government ministry office of the Republic of Turkey, responsible for transport, information and communication services in Turkey. Its head office is in Ankara...
. Civil aircraft, foreign flagged or Turkish, may make use of the maintenance facilities at the base with permission. Aircraft with any foreigner crew member, however, need to obtain a special permission to use the facilities. No staying overnight is allowed at the airport.
Units and equipment stationed
Following units and their equipment are stationed at the air base:- General Staff controlled units
- Special Aviation Group Command (Özel Hava Grup Komutanlığı)S-70ASikorsky UH-60 Black HawkThe UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky submitted the S-70 design for the United States Army's Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System competition in 1972...
helicopters and CN235-100MCASA CN-235The CASA/IPTN CN-235 is a medium-range twin-engined transport plane that was jointly developed by CASA of Spain and IPTN of Indonesia as a regional airliner and military transport. Its primary military roles include maritime patrol, surveillance, and air transport...
transporters - GES Aviation Group Command (GES Hava Grup Komutanlığı)CN235-100MCASA CN-235The CASA/IPTN CN-235 is a medium-range twin-engined transport plane that was jointly developed by CASA of Spain and IPTN of Indonesia as a regional airliner and military transport. Its primary military roles include maritime patrol, surveillance, and air transport...
transporters and UH-1H, Bell 206L helicopters
- Special Aviation Group Command (Özel Hava Grup Komutanlığı)S-70A
- General Command of Mapping (Harita Genel Komutanlığı)
- Mapping Aviation Group (Harita Hava Grubu)Beech B200Beechcraft Super King AirThe Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
aircraft
- Mapping Aviation Group (Harita Hava Grubu)Beech B200
- Army Aviation School Command (K.K. Havacılık Okulu Komutanlığı)
- Attack Helicopter Squadron (Taarruz Helikopter Taburu)
- 1st Flight (1. Filo)Bell AH-1
- 2nd Flight (2. Filo)Bell AH-1P, Bell TAH-1P Trainer
- Helicopter Squadron (Helikopter Taburu)
- 1st Flight (1.Bölük)Bell UH-1
- 2nd Flight (2.Bölük)S-70ASikorsky UH-60 Black HawkThe UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky submitted the S-70 design for the United States Army's Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System competition in 1972...
- Air Transport Group (Hava Ulaştırma Grubu)Beech B200Beechcraft Super King AirThe Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
, 421C Golden Eagle/Executive Commuter aircraft and UH-1H, Eurocopter AS 532 UL Cougar helicopters - Instruction Flight Command (Kurs Bölük Komutanlığı)
- Basic Flying Instruction-Rotating (Temel Uçuş Hareketli)Augusta Bell 206RBell 206The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected...
helicopters - Instrumental Flight Instruction (Aletli Uçus Eğitim)Cessna T-41D to be replaced by Cessna T182T Skylane, Beechcraft T-42A aircraft
- Tactical Flying, Shooting and Instruction Departments (Taktik Uçuş, Atış ve Eğitim Bölümleri)Agusta Bell AB 204B, Bell UH-1H, Bell OH-58A Kiowa helicopters and Cessna U-17B aircraft
- Basic Flying Instruction-Rotating (Temel Uçuş Hareketli)Augusta Bell 206R
- 5th Main Maintenance Center (5. Ana Bakım Merkezi)
- Attack Helicopter Squadron (Taarruz Helikopter Taburu)
- 1st Army Aviation Regiment (1. Kara Havacılık Alayı)
- Air Transport Group (Hava Ulaştırma Grubu)Beriev Be-200Beriev Be-200The Beriev Be-200 Altair is a multipurpose amphibious aircraft designed by the Beriev Aircraft Company and manufactured by Irkut. Marketed as being designed for fire fighting, search and rescue, maritime patrol, cargo, and passenger transportation, it has a capacity of 12 tonnes of water, or up...
amphibious aircraftAmphibious aircraftAn amphibious aircraft or amphibian is an aircraft that can take off and land on either land or water. Fixed-wing amphibious aircraft are seaplanes that are equipped with retractable wheels, at the expense of extra weight and complexity, plus diminished range and fuel economy compared to planes...
, 421C Golden Eagle/Executive Commuter aircraft and Bell UH-1H, Aerospatiale AS 532-VIP, Aerospatiale AS 532UL Cougar helicopters
- Air Transport Group (Hava Ulaştırma Grubu)Beriev Be-200
- Ankara Gendarmerie Aviation Group Command (Ankara Jandarma Hava Grup Komutanlığı)
- Headquarter (Karargah Kıtaatı)Cessna 182P Skylane aircraft and S-70A-17 helicopters
- 1st Helicopter Flight (1. Helikopter Filo)Augusta Bell AB 205 and S-70A-17
- 2nd Helicopter Flight (2. Helikopter Filo)Mil Mi-17-1V (VIP, gunship and transport)
1993 airplane crash
Chief of the Gendarmerie, Gen. Eşref BitlisEsref Bitlis
Eşref Bitlis was a general in the Turkish Gendarmerie, who died in a mysterious plane crash.-Early life and career:He was born 1933 in the eastern Anatolian city of Malatya, Turkey. He attended the Turkish Military Academy, finishing it in 1952 in the rank of a Lieutenant...
departed on February 17, 1993 from the Güvercinlik Air Base aboard a Beechcraft B200
Beechcraft Super King Air
The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
for an official trip. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. Bitlis, his aide-de-camp, the pilots and a technician were killed.
The pilot, who had VIP green card certification for excellence in flying, had switched the airplanes before the flight after having realized that the cockpit was not in order. The statement of the Chief of the General Staff, Gen. Doğan Güreş, that the accident on that snowy day was caused by atmospheric icing
Atmospheric icing
Atmospheric icing occurs when water droplets in the atmosphere freeze on objects they contact. This can be extremely dangerous to aircraft, as the built-up ice changes the aerodynamics of the flight surfaces, which can increase the risk of a subsequent stalling of the airfoil...
was denied by the crash investigators.
Other airports in Ankara
- Esenboğa International AirportEsenboga International AirportEsenboğa International Airport , is an airport located northeast of Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. It has been operating since 1955. The name of the airport comes from the village of Esenboğa , which literally means "flying bull"....
- Akıncı Air BaseAkinci Air BaseAkıncı Air Base is an airbase of the Turkish Air Force located northwest of Ankara, Turkey.Eskişehir is the 4th Air Wing of the 1st Air Force Command of the Turkish Air Force...
- Etimesgut Air BaseEtimesgut Air BaseEtimesgut Air Base is an airbase of the Turkish Air Force located west of Ankara, Turkey. It is owned by Turkish Air Force and jointly operated by the air force and the Turkish Aeronautical Association . International Defense Industry, Aerospace and Maritime Fair and civil aviation airshows...