Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University (ALKÜ) held a conference on December 7th as part of World Civil Aviation Day. A conference and seminar were held at the Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University (ALKÜ) Gazipaşa Faculty of Aviation and Space Sciences and the Mustafa Rahmi Büyükballı (MRB) Vocational School on December 7th, within the scope of World Civil Aviation Day. At the Gazipaşa Mustafa Rahmi Büyükballı Vocational School Conference Hall, an event jointly organized by the Alanya Aviation and Hürkuş Aviation clubs was opened with the participation of Gazipaşa District Governor Orhan Altun, Chief Prosecutor Erkan Alanoğlu, ALKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Ekrem Kalan, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Can Tansel Tuğcu, Dean of the Gazipaşa Faculty of Aviation and Space Sciences Prof. Dr. Erhan Cengiz, Gazipaşa Municipality Deputy Mayor Adem Kaya, Director of the Gazipaşa Mustafa Rahmi Büyükballı Vocational School Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Fikret Işık, Türkiye Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Union (TOBB) Civil Aviation Council Academic Advisor Prof. Dr. Yıldırım Saldıraner, Chairman of the Alanya Tourism Operators Association (ALTİD) Burhan Sili, representatives of public institutions, representatives of NGOs, as well as academic and administrative personnel and students.
**"The future is in the skies" is our principle.**
The event, which began with the opening speech of Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Fikret Işık, Director of the Gazipaşa MRB Vocational School, and continued with the speech of Dean Cengiz of the Gazipaşa Faculty of Aviation and Space Sciences, highlighted the importance of civil aviation. Dean Cengiz said, "Our country has made air travel not a luxury but a means that everyone can use. The Covid-19 pandemic, which has been ongoing since 2019, has negatively affected the civil aviation sector as it has affected all sectors. However, with the acceleration of normalization steps, a renewed dynamism has begun in the aviation sector. The development our country has achieved in the field of civil aviation is also seen in military and space activities. As a faculty, our primary goal is to adopt the words of our Supreme Leader Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, 'The future is in the skies,' and to contribute to these efforts through hard work."
**"Aviation is a driving force for countries."**
Following the event, Rector Kalan made an assessment on the occasion of December 7th, World Civil Aviation Day, stating that aviation plays a very important role in today's globalized societies and that air transport provides significant economic, social and cultural benefits to both countries and humanity. Rector Kalan also stated that the aviation sector is currently in a position of being a driving force for national economies, and therefore aviation plays a critical role in sustainable development.
**"The pandemic had a negative impact, but we are recovering."**
Following the opening speeches, Burhan Sili, Chairman of the Alanya Tourism Operators Association (ALTİD), gave a presentation to the students on the relationship between the tourism and aviation sectors. Sili said, "While it was estimated that the 75 million target could be reached in 2020, the pandemic suddenly stopped the whole world. Not only tourism, but also the aviation sector was negatively affected, but we are recovering."
**"We are very strong in the aviation sector."**
Prof. Dr. Yıldırım Saldıraner, Academic Advisor of the TOBB Civil Aviation Council, also stated that Turkey has made great progress in both the civil aviation and military aviation sectors. Saldıraner said, "Now we are not only producing, but also marketing what we produce to other countries. This is a great success story. We are making incredible progress in military aviation. Difficulties are good for the Turkish people. They challenged us in Cyprus, and our defense industry developed. Now they are restricting us with the F-35. I believe that we will somehow produce our own jet aircraft. We will give the world another lesson in aviation."
The program ended with the presentation of flowers.