HÜRKUŞ Obtains Certification from SHGM and EASA

 

On July 11, 2016, TUSAŞ – Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), recognized as a certified Design Organization by Turkey’s General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), received the "TT32 Aircraft Type Certificate" for its HÜRKUŞ New Generation Basic Trainer Aircraft from SHGM. On the same day, EASA validated this certification for all European countries with its "EASA Validated Type Certificate".

Following a rigorous process of design, testing, documentation, and verification, the SHGM Type Certificate was issued. Subsequently, TUSAŞ officially received the EASA Validated Type Certificate during a ceremony at the Farnborough Airshow on July 12, 2016. The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including Deputy Minister of National Defense Şuay Alpay, Undersecretary for Defense Industries Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir, and Brigadier General İdris Aksoy, alongside TUSAŞ executives. The certificate was presented by Trevor Woods, EASA Certification Director, to TUSAŞ Chairman Nejat Bilgin and CEO Muharrem Dörtkaşlı.

A Historic Achievement for Turkish Aviation

HÜRKUŞ is the first aircraft to be certified by SHGM and the first Turkish aircraft certified by EASA. Notably, it also includes systems like pilot canopy fracture and ejection seat mechanisms, which were certified by EASA for the first time within a single aircraft.

Timeline of Certification Process

  • February 2007: TUSAŞ applied for Design Organization Approvals (DOA) from both SHGM and EASA.
  • July 19, 2012: EASA granted the EASA Part 21 Design Organization Approval.
  • December 26, 2014: SHGM issued the SHY/SHT-21 Design Organization Approval.
  • December 22, 2008: TUSAŞ submitted the Type Certificate application for HÜRKUŞ, accepted on January 13, 2009.

These certifications validate the compliance of TUSAŞ's engineering capabilities, including subcontractor collaborations, with international aviation standards.

Rigorous Oversight

Under an "Agreement of Cooperation" between SHGM and EASA, 11 specialized panels were formed to oversee the design and regulatory compliance of HÜRKUŞ. Inspections evaluated adherence to EASA’s CS-23 airworthiness standards, environmental protection requirements, and high-performance aircraft specifications.

Intensive Certification Effort

The certification process involved:

  • 500+ hours of flight tests
  • 4000 equivalent flight hours of fatigue testing
  • Comprehensive subsystem qualification and ground tests
  • Nearly 500 compliance documents and 5000 technical drawings

This effort underscores the dedication and innovation that define HÜRKUŞ's development.

Next Steps

A formal ceremony for the delivery of the SHGM Type Certificate is planned to take place in Turkey in the coming weeks, celebrating this significant milestone in Turkish aviation history.

 

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