Turkey's government has set a target of 2023 for the service entry of a locally designed and built regional airliner.
This schedule would coincide with the centenary anniversary of the founding of the republic. Turkey's transport ministry says that the aircraft would have capacity of 50-70 seats.
It is considering whether to pursue a completely new design or licence-build an existing aircraft in the initial phase. But transport minister Binali Yildirim says that, under a second phase, $1 billion would be set aside over nine years for airframe and engine development work - although the government has not given further details.
Yildirim says that Turkish civil and military parties have highlighted the "human resources, experience, know-how" that the country can bring to the plan.
Source: Flight International
