Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 14 hrs ago
Turkey to establish designated corridors for autonomous drone flights
Turkey’s transport minister, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, says new rules provide a legal framework for long-distance autonomous drone flights in designated air corridors.
The corridors will be developed by the civil aviation authority with other agencies, and their routes and flight rules will be published on a central digital platform.
Artificial intelligence will help plan routes, while authorities will be able to change or stop flights; drones that lose connection will be directed to pre-set recovery areas away from populated places.
The planned uses include carrying cargo between cities, medical supplies between hospitals, and deliveries to islands and places that are hard to reach in winter.
The system could also support industrial deliveries and inspections of transport and energy infrastructure, extending drone use beyond recreation.
Hobby flights will not be allowed, and routes will be set according to need and announced through the platform; only authorized operators with P2-licensed pilots and compliant, registered drones may use them.
Turkey plans to establish designated airspace corridors for long-distance, beyond-visual-line-of-sight and autonomous drone flights.
The corridors will be coordinated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and defined digitally, including their boundaries, entry and exit points, directions and capacity.
Flight information will be published through the central İHATTYS system, which will also be used to monitor and manage flights.
The system is intended for uses including cargo and medical transport, supply to hard-to-reach places, industrial transfers and infrastructure inspection.
Flights will require authorisation and technical safeguards, and hobby flights will not be allowed in the corridors.
- Who
- Turkey’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced the plan.
- What
- Turkey plans to create digitally defined corridors for long-distance, autonomous drone flights outside the pilot’s line of sight.
- When
- The announcement was reported on November 8, 2026. The relevant directive was published on July 30, 2026.
- Where
- In designated airspace corridors in Turkey.
- Why
- To enable safe, controlled drone operations and provide transport options independent of road traffic, including logistics and medical transport.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation published the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Directive, which provides for the drone corridors.
Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu described plans for the corridors and their intended operation.
- Directive
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems Directive (SHT-İHA), published July 30, 2026
- Digital platform
- İHATTYS, the Unmanned Aircraft Tracking and Traffic Management System
- Eligible pilots
- Pilots with a P2 licence and required operational authorisations
- Hobby flights
- Not allowed in the corridors
- Planned uses
- Cargo and medical transport, industrial transfers and long-distance infrastructure inspection
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What people are saying
We will create digitally defined air routes in the sky. This will allow unmanned aerial vehicles to fly safely and under control along designated routes.
We will open the way for a new transport opportunity independent of road traffic.
In the event of a loss of connection, unmanned aerial vehicles will be directed to previously designated emergency landing areas without passing over residential areas.
These corridors will be closed to hobby flights.