Turkish Aeronautical Association's 96-year authority revoked

The Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK), founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1925, served as Turkey's sole institution for issuing international aviation certificates for many years. However, this 96-year-old authority was transferred to the government-aligned Turkish Air Sports Federation (THSF) following a change made in August 2025. From now on, the THSF will issue internationally valid certificates in the field of sports aviation, replacing the Turkish Aeronautical Association.

THK'S INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITY HAD CONTINUED FOR 96 YEARS

The Turkish Aeronautical Association, having become a member of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) in 1929, provided training in numerous sports aviation disciplines such as gliding, parachuting, powered paragliding, paragliding, model aircraft, ballooning, and hang gliding, offering internationally valid certificates to those who completed these programs. As the only institution in Turkey to issue international certificates in sports aviation, the THK also generated revenue from these training programs and organized many international events in partnership with the FAI.

The Turkish Air Sports Federation (THSF) had been working for a long time to take the authority to issue sports aviation certificates away from the THK. 

According to a report by İsmail Arı from Birgün, as of August 2025, the international licensing (certification) authorities granted by the FAI, covering all sports disciplines, were officially transferred to the THSF. With this change, the THSF aims to create standardized training programs for sports clubs, coaches, and athletes, accelerate technology integration, and establish a more effective roadmap for the discovery and support of young talent.

'RENT-SEEKING' ALLEGATIONS HAD BEEN RAISED

Former THK executives had claimed that sports aviation was being viewed as a "rent-seeking area" and that there was an intent to strip the Turkish Aeronautical Association of all its powers in this field. These executives stated, "The goal is to take all of the THK's authorities, organize sports aviation courses and championships under the Turkish Air Sports Federation, and render the THK idle."