THK's firefighting aircraft are up for sale!

During the AKP era, many of the THK's revenue streams were cut off. When the corruption signed off on by poor management was added to the government's pressure, the institution fell into a debt trap. Following internal strife, a trustee was appointed to the THK in 2019.

The boards of trustees, selected from among AKP members, first sold the air ambulances. According to a report by İsmail Arı from BirGün, a decision has now been made to sell the firefighting aircraft, which were a subject of debate for years, were deliberately left to rot under the label of "scrap," and were only brought back into use following public outcry.

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 had appointed the trustees to the THK. Approval was requested 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 "it was not stated in detail why the sale was requested and what the money to be obtained from the sale would be used for." According to information obtained by BirGün, the decision to sell the firefighting aircraft was made a long time ago. It is stated that the sale could take place in the coming days.

DELIVERED IN 8-10 YEARS

The value of the aircraft, produced by the Canada-based company Canadair, is stated to be between 4 and 6 million dollars. The aircraft, which can carry approximately 5 tons of water, can take off and land on both water and land due to its amphibious capability.

Similar versions of this aircraft, which is used in many countries around the world and is no longer in production, take approximately 8-10 years to be delivered if ordered from the manufacturer. It is even known that many countries have been waiting in line for many years for the production and delivery of firefighting aircraft.

THE INSTITUTION'S REAL ESTATE

The government's eyes are not only on the aircraft but also on the THK's real estate. The THK, which has around 1,300 properties, still possesses a large number of aircraft. Furthermore, the institution owns massive tracts of land, airports, real estate in tourism regions, business centers, and hotels in many parts of the country. The real estate and aircraft of the THK, which has been managed by a Board of Trustees consisting of government loyalists since 2019, are being sold off for a song.

THE FIRST BLOW WAS STRUCK IN 2013

The first and greatest blow struck by the government against the Turkish Aeronautical Association occurred in 2013. Sacrificial hides had been collected by the Turkish Aeronautical Association since 1926. It was stated that those who collected sacrificial hides other than the THK would be prosecuted with prison sentences ranging from 3 to 6 months, and that the collected hides would be confiscated. In 1994, the Great Unity Party (BBP), led by Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu, and the Akit newspaper organized separate campaigns. The BBP called for sacrificial hides not to be given to the THK with the words, "Do not make your sacrificial hides appetizers for the tables of drunks," while Akit said, "Muslim, do not let your sacrificial hide be captured by drunks."

Reactionaries even issued fatwas stating that it would be more appropriate to bury the sacrificial hides in the ground rather than giving them to the THK. In 2013, an amendment was made to the "Regulation on the Principles and Procedures for Collecting Aid." With this regulation, the THK's monopoly on collecting sacrificial hides was removed, and the way was opened for anyone to donate to whomever they wished. Additionally, the THK's collection of fitra (charity) was also blocked.

REVENUES TAKEN AWAY

With this blow struck by the AKP against the THK, millions of liras of the institution's revenue were taken away. 50 percent of the profit obtained from sacrificial hides used to go to the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation, 40 percent to the Turkish Aeronautical Association, 4 percent to the Red Crescent, 3 percent to the Child Protection Agency, and 3 percent to the Religious Affairs Foundation. The sacrificial hide revenue taken from the THK now flows to religious communities and sects.

CHOSE RUSSIA, NOT THE THK

Due to the government's stubbornness, the THK's firefighting aircraft were not used for a long time. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry rented firefighting aircraft from Russia. The fact that the THK's firefighting aircraft were not used during the major forest fires that lasted for days in 2021 drew great reaction. At that time, the firefighting aircraft pilots who had been fired by the THK spoke to BirGün. The pilots said, "The whole world uses the aircraft in the hands of the THK. If they said, 'Come and put out this fire today,' we would jump into those planes, put out the fire, and return. We performed our duties successfully. There was nothing wrong with the planes we used."

The pilots reacted to the minister of the time, Pakdemirli, as follows: "He has never seen a fire in his life, but he tried to rent planes from Russia and other places." Following the forest fires in 2021, the government took a step back and began renting the THK's aircraft again.

HELICOPTERS WERE SOLD

The blows struck by the government against the THK are not limited to these. The Turkish Aeronautical Association purchased 17 air ambulances for approximately 100 million euros. The helicopters were rented to the Ministry of Health for a long time. However, starting from the final days of 2022, air ambulances were no longer rented from the THK. The trustee managing the THK decided to sell the air ambulances, which were purchased for 100 million euros, for 21 million dollars.

THEY SET THEIR SIGHTS ON THE HOTEL

It is also known that the THK Board of Trustees is preparing to transfer the Tayyare Apartments in Laleli, Istanbul—the institution's most valuable piece of real estate, which has been used as a hotel for many years—to the Turkey Wealth Fund (TVF). The value of the hotel is estimated to be over 10 billion TL. The construction of the buildings in Laleli, known as the Tayyare Apartments, began in 1919 and was completed in 1922. Shortly after the proclamation of the Republic, it was transferred to the Turkish Aeronautical Association at the request of Atatürk to provide income.