Air Transport

Turkey's civil aviation administration SHGM is cracking down on operators following November 2007's fatal Boeing MD-83 accident in the south of the country.

SHGM says it has suspended the flights of charter carrier Tarhan Tower Airlines after discovering technical issues with the operator's maintenance department. It has cancelled the carrier's JAR-145 maintenance certificate and ordered a three-month suspension of the airline's flight services. TT Airlines is planning to reorganise its operations and regain its permits.

Start-up Golden Airlines has also had its operations put on hold for three months after the carrier failed to introduce a second aircraft within the set time limits. The airline has a single Boeing 757 leased from International Lease Finance but, under Turkish regulations, start-up carriers must bring in a second aircraft within three months.

Last week an Ankara court sided with SHGM and cancelled the air operator's certificate of troubled Fly Air. The carrier has been trying to reorganise and has appointed Celalettin Durak as its general manager.