Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), a United States-based aerospace and aviation systems company, has announced the formation of its newest wholly-owned subsidiary, TRJet Havacilik Teknolojileri Anonim Şirketi.
The announcement at the Paris Air Show (June 15-21) follows SNC’s May 27 signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with its Turkish partner STM (Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret) in support of the Turkish Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications to produce the country’s first regional jet as part of its Regional Aircraft Project.
TRJet will be based in Ankara, Turkey, and will serve the Regional Aircraft Project as well as the commercial aviation sector. The newly launched Regional Aircraft Project utilizes the TRJ328 aircraft, a modernized version of the Dornier 328 (D328), as a first step toward production of Turkey’s first domestically-built passenger aircraft, the TRJ628. The TRJet subsidiary will ultimately produce and sell the TRJ328, as well as other variants, and will play an essential role in making Turkey’s first indigenous passenger aircraft a reality.
TRJet will combine the legacy of two esteemed aviation companies, SNC and 328 Support Services, to create an aviation and aerospace company that merges modern-edge German aircraft engineering and the latest industry modification standards. The Turkish government will capitalize on this technology, and on Dornier’s legacy of innovation dating back to the start of commercial aviation, to support the growth of Turkey’s existing civil aviation industry, as well as to open the country to the global aviation market. The 328 is currently certified in 85 countries around the world, and is in use in countries including the USA, Switzerland, Germany, the UK and Denmark.
“We believe that the combination of technology, research, collaboration and decades of experience is the right recipe for TRJet’s future success in Turkey and around the globe,” said SNC president Eren Ozmen. “We are confident TRJet, working with our partners in Turkey, and the commitment and support of those involved in the Turkish Regional Aircraft Project, will be successful in producing aircraft that change the face of transportation in Turkey.”
SNC has pursued international ventures for much of its 50-plus-year history and the company has had business interests in Turkey for several years. SNC’s owners, president Eren Ozmen and CEO Fatih Ozmen, are of Turkish origin and the establishment of TRJet cements their interests in the Republic of Turkey as they take leadership roles as directors in the newly-formed company.
TRJet will not only be located in Turkey, but will employ Turkish workers and utilize local subcontractors and vendors, which will contribute significantly to the region’s economy while continuing to develop the Republic of Turkey’s burgeoning civil aviation industry.
June 29, 2015
