Güvercinlik Army Air Base

Ankara Güvercinlik Army Air Base is a Turkish Army facility located in the Etimesgut district, 10 kilometers west of Ankara. Established in 1933 as the city’s first airport, it initially hosted domestic passenger flights for the Turkish State Airlines. In 1935, the Turkish Aeronautical Association established the Türkkuşu training and maintenance center at the airfield, which operated there until 1945. The facility transitioned to primary military use following the transfer of commercial flights to Esenboğa Airport in 1955. The Army Aviation School relocated to Güvercinlik from Polatlı in 1958. In 1968, the base began providing flight training for the newly re-established Turkish Navy aviation branch.

The base is owned and operated by the Turkish Army and hosts multiple commands. General Staff controlled units stationed at the installation include the Special Aviation Group Command and the GES Aviation Group Command. Other permanent units include the Mapping Aviation Group of the General Directorate of Mapping, the Army Aviation School Command, the 1st Army Aviation Regiment, and the Ankara Gendarmerie Aviation Group Command. Under a 2002 protocol, the airport remains open for non-scheduled civil domestic flights subject to military permission.

Infrastructure includes the 5th Main Maintenance Center, which provides technical services for military aircraft and authorized civil aircraft. The base supports various rotary-wing assets, including units of Bell AH-1 attack helicopters, S-70A, UH-1H, Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar, Agusta Bell 204 and 206, and Mil Mi-17-1V helicopters. Fixed-wing operations utilize CN235-100M transporters, Beechcraft B200, Cessna T-41D, and Beriev Be-200 amphibious aircraft. The Army Aviation School conducts basic and instrumental flight instruction at the site, operating trainers such as the Beechcraft T-42A and Cessna T182T Skylane. No overnight stays for civil aircraft are permitted at the facility.