On April 25-26, 2019, delegates of the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation took part in meetings with representatives of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), ESEN and Yunus Emre Institute (YEE). The visit was held in Ankara on the initiative of Academic and Scientific Cooperation Project of Turkey (TABİP) operating within YEE.
One of the results of the visit was signing a protocol on cooperation in the field of aviation between YEE and the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation within the framework of the Turkish scientific project called TABIP. The project is an initiative of the Turkish government and aims to strengthen the academic and scientific cooperation of Turkey with foreign scientific and research centres in the world, ensure safe and effective transfer of know-how, strengthen human resources and develop scientific diplomacy.
During the two-day visit, the delegates of the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the activities of the largest Turkish companies in the aviation sector.
On the part of Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation, the delegation included: Director of the Institute of Aviation – Paweł Stężycki, Deputy Director – Sylwester Wyka, Przemysław Drężek – Deputy Manager of the Aerodynamics Department, Rafał Żurawski from the Center of New Technologies of the Institute of Aviation and Agata Wierzbińska – Key Specialist for International Development. On the first day of the visit, a bilateral meeting with representatives of ESEN which is located in Ankara in the Ankara Middle East Technical University technology park took place.
ESEN was established in Turkey as a branch of the American company Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) which is a manufacturer of electronic systems and other key components for satellites and spacecraft.
ESEN was established to carry out strategic projects for the country on behalf of SNC. These projects include, among others, the construction of the ISR (Intelligence Reconnaissance Surveillance) platform and the modification of aircraft. ESEN’s activities also include UAS projects and space & sensing systems.
During the meeting, the possibilities of cooperation between the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation and ESEN and SNC companies were discussed.
On the second day of the visit, a meeting was held at the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries. TAI’s activity includes licensed production of F-16 fighters, development of indigenous helicopters, as well as design and development of unmanned aircrafts and satellite technologies. TAI’s core business also includes modernization, modification and integration programs as well as after-sales service for military and commercial aircraft.
The campus and TAI factories are located near Ankara in the Akinci district on the area of 4 million m2. Currently, TAI employs about 8,000 people working in 5 main branches: Aerostructures Group, Aircraft Group, Helicopter Group, UAS Group and Space Systems Group.
The meeting with the delegation of the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation was attended by over 30 people from TAI representing various branches of the company and representatives of YEE.
In his speech addressed to TAI and YEE representatives, the Director of the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation Paweł Stężycki referred to the history of Polish-Turkish cooperation in the field of aviation, which began during the Second World War and continued in later years. This cooperation included, among others, the development of training structures by Polish and Turkish engineers, production of gliders based on Polish solutions (glider Ps-2, US-4) and exchange of academic staff (lecturers at the Technical University of Istanbul were, among others, Leszek Dulęba and Jerzy Teisseyre).
The most important projects of the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation, as well as the scope of the Institute’s activities and research competences were also mentioned.
TAI representatives participating in the talks expressed their interest in cooperation with the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation in the field of aerodynamic tests, composite structures, dynamic tests (air chassis) and participation in joint European projects such as Clean Sky or Horizon 2020.
Details of this cooperation are to be discussed during visit of Turkish representatives to Warsaw.
An intermediary in establishing cooperation between the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation and TAI is the Yunus Emre Foundation (within which YEE operates), established to promote Turkey and to intensify cultural exchange and strengthen friendship between Turkey and other countries. The Foundation has branches in 55 countries around the world and has been the coordinator of the TABIP programme for about 2 years.
Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation is currently involved in scientific cooperation with the Technical University of Istanbul and the Institute of Technology in Izmir.
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Institute of Aviation visiting technical universities and technoparks in Istanbul and Izmir
