Baykar, the Turkish defense manufacturer that is the world's largest producer of unmanned aerial vehicles, has begun preparations to launch a commercial air cargo airline, according to a report by aviation journalist Tolga Ozbek carried by Türkiye Today.

The Istanbul-based company plans to start operations with a single Airbus A321P2F cargo aircraft and expand its fleet over time, the report said. Baykar has already begun recruiting staff for the new venture, with job listings on its careers platform indicating preparations to launch and operate a new commercial air cargo business.

"Our newly established commercial air cargo transportation operation aims to conduct national and international air cargo transportation in line with the principles of safety, quality, and operational excellence," one job posting states. It adds: "Our operations will be carried out in accordance with national and international civil aviation regulations and company procedures, and a professional and sustainable organizational structure centered on a culture of safety will be established."

The postings indicate the new operation will include flight operations, ground services, cargo operations, maintenance management, and safety and security systems, all aligned with civil aviation standards. Beyond captain and first officer roles, Baykar is recruiting for positions including dangerous goods specialist, loading specialist, ground operations manager, financial affairs specialist, security manager, crew planning manager, continuing airworthiness manager, and Quality and Safety Management System (SMS) manager.

A dedicated dangerous goods operation

The new air cargo business will also establish a separate operational structure for transporting dangerous goods, according to Baykar's dangerous goods specialist job posting. The company aims to conduct its dangerous goods transport processes in line with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, ICAO Technical Instructions, and relevant regulations from Türkiye's General Directorate of Civil Aviation, covering the acceptance, inspection, classification, packaging, labelling and documentation of dangerous goods, as well as loading-plan preparation, personnel training tracking, and operational risk assessment, the posting said.

Why Baykar is starting with the A321P2F

The A321 is currently Airbus's largest single-aisle aircraft model, according to the report. Aircraft that reach a certain age undergo a specialised conversion process in which the cabin and seats are removed to turn them into freighters. A321s can carry cargo both in the cabin and belly hold, with a large cargo door fitted to the aircraft's left side to allow faster loading—hence the designation P2F, or Passenger-to-Freighter.

The aircraft has a total cargo capacity of about 28 tonnes and a range of 3,800 kilometres. The A321P2F is already in use in Türkiye by MNG Airlines and BBN, and it reportedly offers about 28 percent more volume and 22 percent more cargo capacity than competing types.

Baykar already has a presence in civil aviation through its subsidiary Cevheri Havacılık, which provides air taxi services. Cevheri began flights in 2022 with a Canadian Bombardier Challenger 605 business jet, registered TC-CVR. In recent months, the company reportedly took steps to add a long-range Bombardier Global 6500 to its fleet, an aircraft with a range of 12,223 kilometres.

Source: Türkiye Today