Challenging Programs Await New Head of TAI

ANKARA—Scores of ambitious indigenous development programs, including a fighter jet, will be a major challenge for Temel Kotil, the newly-appointed CEO of Turkey’s aerospace powerhouse Tusas Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

Kotil has recently replaced Muharrem Dortkasli as TAI’s CEO. He had been successfully running Turkey's national carrier, Turkish Airlines (THY), since 2005.

Under Kotil’s term as THY’s CEO, the airliner’s destinations rose from 102 to 282; the number of passengers from 12 million a year to 61 million; and its fleet from 73 aircraft to 299. THY became the world’s 10^th largest carrier compared to 40^th.

Ali Genc, a former advisor to Kotil at THY says that the new TAI chief "has a passion about developing an entirely Turkish aircraft."

That passion is in line with the Turkish government’s ambition to develop the TFX, an indigenous fighter jet, and the TRJ-328 and TRJ-628, Dornier-based aircraft Turkey wants to develop into regional jets with both civilian and military use.

TAI’s other development programs, other than being a partner in the U.S.-led multinational Joint Strike Fighter program, include unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters and basic trainer aircraft, including an armed and an armed and unmanned version.

Kotil’s appointment as TAI’s chief executive officer was endorsed at the company’s board meeting Oct. 20, TAI sources said.

Kotil, an aviation professional, served as Assistant Associate Professor and Associate Professor in Istanbul Technical University’s (ITU) Faculty of Aircraft and Space Sciences, in 2003. He started his career in Turkish Airlines as Assistant Technical General Director. Kotil served as Deputy General Manager at Turkish Technic, THY’s maintenance subsidiary.

He founded and managed the Aviation and Advanced Composite Laboratories of ITU. Kotil also has been member of the board of governors at International Air Transport Association since 2006.

Aerospace industry sources say Kotil’s appointment as head of TAI would give pace to most of the programs in the company’s portfolio.