World Pilots' Day

April 26 World Pilots Day is a special day commemorated annually in memory of Mehmet Fesa Evrensev, Türkiye’s first licensed pilot. The occasion marks the first flight conducted by Evrensev in Turkish skies on April 26, 1912. It was first officially declared by the Turkish Airline Pilots Association (TALPA) in 2013 as a symbol of unity and solidarity in Turkish aviation.

History of Pilots Day

The Ottoman State took its first serious steps in aviation in 1912. Earlier attempts at demonstration flights in Istanbul in 1909 had ended in failure, but these experiences did not diminish interest in aviation. In 1912, orders were placed with the French R.E.P. (Robert-Esnault-Pelterie) company for aircraft, and Ottoman officers were sent abroad to receive pilot training.

In April 1912, two R.E.P. aircraft ordered by the Ottoman State arrived in Istanbul’s Yeşilköy. Accompanying them was British pilot Gordon Bell, who came to Istanbul and conducted test flights on April 26, 1912, ahead of a planned air show scheduled for April 27. During these trials, Mehmet Fesa Evrensev, holder of the first pilot license of the Turkish Air Forces, also flew, becoming the first Turkish pilot to operate an aircraft in Turkish skies.

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Proclamation and International Recognition of Pilots Day

Based on the date of April 26, 1912, the Turkish Airline Pilots Association (TALPA) officially declared this day as "Pilots Day" in 2013. This date has since been recognized as a symbol of unity and solidarity in Turkish aviation. In 2014, the European Cockpit Association (ECA) and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) endorsed the day, granting it international recognition.

The flight carried out by Mehmet Fesa Evrensev on April 26, 1912, marked a turning point in the history of Turkish aviation. This date is remembered in the aviation community not merely as the anniversary of a single flight, but as a unique gift from Türkiye to the world.