Organized by KAEU Yıldızlar Aviation Student Community within the scope of the Ministry of Youth and Sports University Student Clubs Cooperation and Support Program (ÜNİDES), the AHİCE Aviation Career Days Event took place on May 8, 2025, at the Neşet Ertaş Hall of the Ahi Evran Congress and Culture Center. The event was participated by Rector of KAEU Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Güneş, Secretary General Dr. Hüseyin İlter, TUSAŞ Information Technologies Director Semih Kaya, Turkiye’s First Experiential Test Pilot and Hürkuş Pilot Murat Özpala, BAYKAR Technology Electrical-Electronics Engineer Yusuf İslam Hamamcı, co-founder and Electrical-Electronics Engineer of SAVX Technology and Aviation Inc. Abdullah Aktaş, and founder of Yıldız Academy, Educator and Technology Developer Mehmet Ali Altuntaş, Kırşehir Provincial Director of Industry and Technology Hacı Daştan, as well as university academic and administrative staff and students.
Before the event, TUSAŞ Information Technologies Director Semih Kaya, Turkiye’s First Experiential Test Pilot and Hürkuş Pilot Murat Özpala, BAYKAR Technology Electrical-Electronics Engineer Yusuf İslam Hamamcı, SAVX Technology and Aviation Inc. Co-founder and Electrical-Electronics Engineer Abdullah Aktaş, and Yıldız Academy Founder, Educator, and Technology Developer Mehmet Ali Altuntaş visited Rector of KAEU Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil in his office. During the visit, consultations were held on the country’s technological initiatives and the ongoing projects at our university.
The event, which began with opening speeches, first featured remarks from Yıldızlar Aviation Student Community Advisor Lecturer Bilal Atak. In his speech, Atak expressed his belief that the event would contribute to the students’ career development and thanked everyone who contributed to the organization.
Following him, TUSAŞ Information Technologies Director Semih Kaya delivered a presentation in which he provided detailed information about TUSAŞ. Kaya elaborated on the company’s fields of operation, internship opportunities at TUSAŞ, the human resources department, and academic collaboration opportunities. He also introduced the various aviation technologies developed in Türkiye.
Next, Rector of KAEU Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil took the floor and emphasized the impressive progress Türkiye has made in aviation technologies, stating, “Türkiye had a great need to develop and advance in this field.” He noted that after World War II, the Marshall Plan implemented by the United States hindered domestic aircraft production in Türkiye, and efforts by pioneers like Vecihi Hürkuş and Nuri Demirağ to establish aircraft factories were obstructed at every turn. Highlighting that aviation technology in Türkiye began to progress towards the late 1970s and has accelerated significantly in recent years, Prof. Dr. Karahocagil said the country's achievements in this area are a source of national pride. He quoted Nuri Demirağ’s words: “Victory is not at the tip of a bayonet. The eagle of victory has risen from the bayonet’s edge, soared into the sky, and landed on the wing of an aircraft.” Addressing students, he encouraged them to pursue their dreams and emphasized the importance of having aspirations, stating: “Never let go of your dreams and always have one.” He stressed that the future of the country should be entrusted to well-educated individuals and remarked that such programs help motivate students. Concluding his speech, Prof. Dr. Karahocagil thanked everyone involved in organizing the event, which was supported under the ÜNİDES Program.
Following the opening speeches, participants proceeded with their presentations.Turkiye’s First Experiential Test Pilot and Hürkuş Pilot Murat Özpala delivered a presentation titled “Young Hürkuş Meets the Youth.” Yusuf İslam Hamamcı, Electrical-Electronics Engineer at BAYKAR Technology, presented “From the Lecture Hall to the Runway.” Abdullah Aktaş, Co-founder of SAVX Technology and Aviation Inc. and Electrical-Electronics Engineer, spoke on “FPV-Based UAV Applications in Asymmetric Warfare: The Story of the Kamikaze UAV MERKÜT.” Mehmet Ali Altuntaş, Educator and Technology Developer, and Founder of Yıldız Akademi, gave a talk titled “Becoming a Commercial Pilot and Career Opportunities.” The AHİCE Aviation Career Days Event concluded with the presentation of certificates to participants and a group photo to commemorate the occasion.
