TAI seeks partner for aircraft, production

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is considering possible deals with a number of international companies for a partnership to build passenger aircraft. Visiting Canada as part of a delegation headed by Foreign Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan this week, company CEO Muharrem Dortkasli visited the manufacturing plants of Canadian aircraft producer Bombardier and aerospace product and parts manufacturer Goodrich Aerospace Canada and spoke with representatives from both over partnership options. Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Dortkasli said TAI is more interested in a cooperation model in which its role and responsibilities steadily increase. He elaborated: "This cooperation will include supporting production at a rising rate in the short term and being involved in business activity to help the country attain a foreign trade balance; doing deliveries of the aircraft from Turkey in the medium term; and in the long run, moving jointly on improving the aircraft." TAI is planning to produce aircraft by itself or in league with another company by 2023, the centenary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic.