Faculty of Aviation and Space Sciences
The Faculty of Aviation and Space Sciences was established upon publication in the Official Gazette dated March 8, 2012, and numbered 28227. Our Faculty continues its activities under the Rectorate of the University in line with the objectives set forth in Article 4 and the fundamental principles stated in Article 5 of Higher Education Law No. 2547.
Education is currently offered in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and the Department of Aviation Management. In the coming years, it is planned to establish new departments and initiate undergraduate education in the Department of Pilotage. For departments experiencing shortages in academic staff, efforts are also underway to open joint master’s and doctoral programs. The Faculty plans to establish partnerships with relevant public institutions, organizations, and industry in its research and educational activities.
Our Faculty employs a total of 21 academic staff members, including 2 Professors, 4 Associate Professors, 9 Assistant Professors (Dr. Faculty Members), 1 Lecturer (PhD), and 5 Research Assistants. In addition, 13 administrative personnel serve in the Faculty, including 1 Faculty Secretary, 1 Chief Clerk, 1 Section Chief, 1 Technician, 1 Computer Operator, and 8 Permanent Workers.
Furthermore, at the GAÜN Flight Training Academy, 4 Pilots and 4 Aircraft Control and Maintenance Technicians are employed as contracted personnel under Article 4/B.
The Department of Aerospace Engineering admitted its first 20 students in the 2014–2015 academic year. The Department of Aviation Management began education in the 2018–2019 academic year with an intake of 60 students. The language of instruction in both departments is 100% English. In the 2022–2023 academic year, 86 students in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and 97 students in the Department of Aviation Management were enrolled in the preparatory class. The Department of Aerospace Engineering has 12 doctoral students, 45 master’s students, and 2 double major students. In the 2022–2023 academic year, the total number of students enrolled in the Faculty of Aviation and Space Sciences was 666, with 335 students in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and 331 students in the Department of Aviation Management.
In the 2019–2020 academic year, the Department of Aerospace Engineering graduated 32 undergraduate students and 18 master’s students. In the 2020–2021 academic year, 25 undergraduate students graduated, and in the 2021–2022 academic year, 50 undergraduate students graduated. In the 2022–2023 academic year, the Department of Aviation Management graduated 19 undergraduate students, while the Department of Aerospace Engineering graduated 50 undergraduate students. In 2022, the doctoral program awarded its first graduate (1 student), and 3 students graduated from the master’s program.
In 2017, Gaziantep University Flight Training Academy received authorization as a Flight Training Organization from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and began training pilots. As Gaziantep University Flight Training Academy, our primary objective is to train qualified pilots for Turkish Civil Aviation in compliance with the regulations of the national civil aviation authority (DGCA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), without compromising quality and flight safety.
The Academy’s fleet includes two single-engine Cessna 172S aircraft and one twin-engine Diamond DA-42 training aircraft. Our aircraft are equipped with next-generation glass cockpit Garmin 1000 navigation and avionics systems, similar to those used in commercial airline aircraft, to ensure that pilotage students are well-prepared for their transition to airline operations. The periodic maintenance of our aircraft is meticulously carried out by our expert technical team authorized by the DGCA.
Located in the hangar at Gaziantep Oğuzeli Airport, the Flight Training Academy consists of a facility of approximately 900 square meters, including classrooms, briefing rooms, a library, pilot rest areas, service facilities, and social amenities designed for student training. The Academy provides training for the Private Pilot License PPL(A), Night Rating NR(A), and Flight Instructor FI(A) certifications. To date, 35 students have graduated from the PPL training program, 7 from the FI training program, and 26 from the NR training program. Currently, 8 students continue their PPL flight training.
Our Flight Training Academy, which will soon expand its fleet with new training aircraft and additional flight training authorizations, aims to add significant value to the aviation sector in our region and country with its affordable pricing and professional team.
The Department of Aerospace Engineering currently has Fluid Mechanics, Basic Electrical-Electronics, and Composite Materials Laboratories. Installation work for additional laboratories required by the department is ongoing.
Our goal is to address the workforce shortage in the rapidly developing aviation sector in Türkiye within the framework of national development plans, to meet society’s demand in the field of aviation, and to stimulate the regional economy in this sector. In this context, the Faculty actively supports efforts to establish the Southeastern Anatolia Aviation Cluster to promote localization in aviation and the development of a supporting industry.
In accordance with Public Financial Management and Control Law No. 5018, and to ensure transparency and accountability in the effective, efficient, and economical use of public resources, the Faculty of Aviation and Space Sciences prepared and presented its 2022 Unit Activity Report to the public.
With the decision of the Council of Higher Education dated March 20, 2020, and numbered 75850160-104.01.01.01-E.20993, the name of our Department of Aircraft and Space Engineering was changed to the Department of Aerospace Engineering.
May 2024