Statement from the Turkish Aeronautical Association regarding claims that 'firefighting aircraft will be sold'
A statement has been issued regarding claims that the firefighting aircraft belonging to the Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK), which has been managed by a trustee since 2019, are to be sold.
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It was alleged that the Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK), which had a trustee appointed in 2019 and has been managed by trustees since that date, had decided to sell its firefighting aircraft following the sale of its ambulance helicopters. According to a report by İsmail Arı from Birgün, the THK Board of Trustees, chaired by Kemal Yurtnaç—who was an AKP parliamentary candidate nominee for Tokat in 2015 but was not nominated—applied to the Ankara 9th Civil Court of Peace, which appointed the trustees to the THK, requesting approval for the sale of eight CL-215 firefighting aircraft.
On October 7, 2024, the court requested an explanation from the Board of Trustees, stating that "the reason for requesting the sale and how the money to be obtained from the sale will be used have not been declared in detail."
STATEMENT FROM THE THK
A statement regarding the claims was issued by the THK. The statement noted that the institution possesses 8 firefighting aircraft, 3 of which are currently active.
Emphasizing that administrative, financial, and legal measures are being taken to overcome the aforementioned difficulties and to ensure the institution achieves a stronger structure, the statement pointed out that efforts to modernize the corporate structure are also being carried out, and the following was recorded:
"The THK has 8 firefighting aircraft; while 3 of these aircraft can be used actively, efforts are underway to make the other 5 active as well. Subjecting the entire fleet to comprehensive modernization will ensure that these aircraft are used more efficiently and effectively for the 'Green Homeland.' In this direction, efforts to develop joint business models with relevant public institutions are also being planned. It is clear that the fleet, which will consist of 8 aircraft when modernized, will be much more effective in the fight against forest fires in the coming years. There is absolutely no process that would harm the existence or mission of the THK; on the contrary, all our efforts continue in order for our institution to achieve a sustainable structure."