General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM)

The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM) is the authoritative public institution responsible for supervising, regulating, and ensuring safety and security in civil aviation activities within the borders of Türkiye, in accordance with national and international regulations. SHGM operates as an organization under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and has public legal personality with a special budgetary structure.

Historical Development

The foundations of civil aviation in Türkiye were laid in 1912 with the establishment of two hangars and an airfield in Istanbul’s Sefaköy district. Institutional aviation activities gained momentum with the manufacture of the first Turkish-made aircraft, the Vecihi K-IV, in 1925, and the founding of the Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti, which later became the Turkish Aeronautical Association. The first administrative structure within the state was established in 1954 with the creation of the Directorate of Civil Aviation under the Ministry of Transport.

General Directorate of Civil Aviation(SHGM)

The Turkish Civil Aviation Law No. 2920, adopted on 14 October 1983, established the legal framework for the sector, and in 1987 the institution was reorganized as the General Directorate of Civil Aviation. Law No. 5431 issued in 2005 granted SHGM financial autonomy, and in 2018 its current organizational structure, duties, and authorities were redefined by Presidential Decree No. 4. In 2016, the Turkish Civil Aviation Academy (TSHA) was launched to enhance civil aviation training capacity.

Mission, Vision and Core Values

The institution’s mission is to ensure the safety and security of Turkish civil aviation in accordance with national and international regulations. Its vision is to guide the sustainable development of Turkish civil aviation and to become a leader on the international stage. Core values include being technology-based, data-driven, guiding, participatory, collaborative, environmentally conscious, and future-oriented. The institution implements standardized institutional policies in areas such as quality management, information security, training, inspection, exemption, and enforcement.

Duties, Authorities and Areas of Activity

SHGM’s authorities and legal obligations are classified under five main areas of activity:

Legislation and Regulation

Developing national regulations for civil aviation activities and ensuring compliance with international regulations and multilateral agreements.

Inspection, Oversight and Authorization

Conducting inspections in the fields of airports, air navigation services, flight operations, aircraft maintenance organizations, and aviation security. Managing aircraft registration, certification of domestic and national products, the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) registration and tracking system, and airworthiness standards for civil aircraft.

Safety Management System (SMS)

Overseeing the establishment and implementation of safety management systems by stakeholders such as air navigation service providers, commercial air transport operators, ground handling services, and aviation medical centers.

Accident and Incident Investigation Coordination

Coordinating legal procedures related to civil aircraft accidents or serious incidents and developing preventive measures based on investigation outcomes.

Training

Providing international training services through the Turkish Civil Aviation Academy (TSHA), authorizing training institutions, and managing licensing procedures for sector personnel.

Organizational Structure and Human Resources

SHGM operates under an organizational structure managed by the Director General and Deputy Director Generals. The central administration is located in Ankara. It includes directorates for Flight Operations, Airworthiness, Air Transport, Air Navigation, Airports, Aviation Security, Sectoral Regulation, and Training, as well as the Legal Advisory Office, Internal Audit Unit, and Strategy Development Directorate. Directly under the central administration, representative offices in Istanbul, Antalya, and Nevşehir deliver local services.

International Relations and Memberships

Türkiye was among the founding members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1945 and the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) in 1955. It became a member of the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) in 1989. The institution was elected to the ICAO Council in 2016. In May 2024, SHGM was audited under ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA), and the country’s safety system was rated as having high effectiveness.

Strategic Planning and the New Civil Aviation Model

The 2024–2028 Strategic Plan aims to advance digitalization in aviation, environmental sustainability, and the development of human resource potential. The newly designed New Civil Aviation Model (NCAM) consists of three main components:

Corporate Transformation Model (CTM)

A framework ensuring standardized job definitions, titles, and training across the sector, with all training processes managed from a single central authority.

Automation and New Civil Aviation Management Information System

An integrated information system comprising 18 modules including licensing, flight permits, registration tracking, regulation, and inspection.

Smart Value-Added Systems

Software services such as the Mania System, which operates through integration with geographic information systems and artificial intelligence.

Looking ahead, key policies include integrating renewable energy into airports, implementing Climate Change Adaptation plans, and aligning Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) usage rates with international standards. Additionally, regulatory efforts are ongoing to integrate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) technologies into air traffic management and certification systems.