Ali maintains his thirst to be first

The first Grand New helicopter from Agusta Westland to be delivered in Turkey is proudly sitting on the ramp outside the wing-shaped hangar of Genel Havacilik, at the GA park at the corner of Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport.

But being first is nothing unexpected for the Turkish company, whose very name means ‘General Aviation’. The name was selected as the company became the first private aviation business in Turkey to receive its AOC and operate as a business.

The business was created by Nadim Sulyak, who returned to Turkey from the USA and, in 1983, imported a Piper Navaho to begin air taxi operations.

His young son, Ali, who is now chief executive of the company, was caught up in the excitement of it all – and created another first, which brought him national recognition.

“I loved the idea of flying and I was introduced to the Cessna 172 and began learning. I soloed at 12-years-old and am still the youngest person to have achieved that,” he said.

A national newspaper cutting of the momentous achievement is framed on the wall of Ali’s office overlooking the GA ramp. “It was good but, to be honest, I was more interested then in being able to drive a car but was too young. After all, nobody really believed you as a teenager when you said you could fly an airplane.”

No-one would doubt that now. Sulyak has his commercial pilot ratings and flies both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft for the expanded Genel Havacilik, piloting both the single and twin-engined Bell helicopters on the company books, and the vintage JetStar II.

The four-engined JetStar was initially designed as a private venture but was also selected to fulfil a US Air Force requirement for a multi-engined light transport and crew trainer. The first civil-configured JetStar was delivered in early 1961 and became the first business jet to enter service. Its successor, the JetStar II, first flew in 1976 and remained in production until owners Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin) decided to close the line in 1979.

The Genel Havacilik aircraft is one of the last and is in immaculate condition. Its new refurbished interior is a tribute to the capabilities of the company’s in-house interiors team.

Sulyak also flies the company’s Hawker 400 and is now ready to take on the Agusta Westland Grand New.

“We ordered the helicopter at the EBACE show in May. Barely a week later it was ready to deliver. By June the aircraft was with us and working on VIP charter,” Sulyak said.

The Grand New features the most modern developments in avionics while retaining its predecessor, the Grand’s, outstanding performance and features. It is the first type certified light twin (CS/JAR/FAR 27) to enter service with a new electronic flight information system (EFIS) featuring synthetic vision and the first helicopter in this class on the market fully compliant with the latest advanced global positioning system-based navigation requirements for all-weather operations.

“The Grand New really does satisfy our requirements to operate in the most demanding hot and high conditions of Turkey and cover the long distances across the country with extended range and high cruise speed,” Sulyak said.

“Because of the shortage of airports around some towns where industry is growing, helicopters are ideal. We take people to the factories or to construction projects where access by road can take a long time and there are no nearby airports to use a business jet.”

Genel Havacilik is looking at another first – a fully equipped heliport in central Istanbul. “More and more people are realising he benefit of helicopters for access and it is easier when VIPs come to the airport to have them transferred to the city by helicopter. A good heliport is one thing that is missing.”

But while the charter business with the Bell 206 and 407 helicopters and the two business jets is succeeding, Sulyak has turned his attention to other services – MRO.

“We really have a strong focus on the maintenance business now. It is the mainstay of what we do. We have avionics repair and are the authorised Garmin repair shop.

“We are EASA part 145 approved for the Hawker 125 and 400 series, for Bell helicopters and also we do modifications and maintenance on the Eclipse 500 very light jets. We hope to be soon working on Embraer and Cessna Citation aircraft,” he said.

The company has also been developing its skills in the aircraft interiors sector and has refurbished aircraft from its own fleet and from owners across the Middle East.

“We have business interests in Dubai,” Sulyak said. “Several owners have seen our work and have had their cabins refurbished. Over the last couple of years there has been a slow down in buying new aircraft but by coming in and having new carpets, upholstery and even new avionics, the aircraft has a new life and the owners are happy.”

As Genel Havacilik grows its MRO capabilities it is attracting more and more customers from the Gulf and North Africa.

“We are ideally located here. There is no visa application process needed. It can be issued on arrival.  We are close to the very vibrant and wonderful city of Istanbul, and are at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, so there is saving on flying time.

“Istanbul does not close and so crew can eat any time; it is not expensive and we can beat many other MRO providers on price and well as quality,” Sulyak said.

The company employs 60 people with 35 engineers and technicians. “They train in Europe and are highly skilled. People come here and are impressed at what we can do for the price and the quality of work,” he said.

Genel Havacilik continues as a family business with father Nadim and brother Omer still involved. Like Ali, Omer is a commercial pilot and sibling rivalry is apparent as Ali jokes: “He was 15 before he soloed and still doesn’t fly helicopters.” 

The love of aviation runs through the blood of all of the Sulyaks. “It is more than a passion for aviation; it is a sickness. We operated as an airline for a time and learned how true it was that the only way to make a small fortune from aviation is to start with a bigger one. But we carry on with the industry because of this sickness. But, it’s a very nice sickness to have.”