ANKARA, Feb 6 (A.A) - Ten pilots from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) started their F-16 training flights at Akinci Base on Wednesday as part of the military agreement signed between Turkish and UAE Air Forces.
Air Forces Commandership organized a tour at the 4th Main Jet Base Commandership for the reporters.
Major Umit Senyuz said that they were trying to offer close to war conditions to the military personnel who are trained at Akinci Base. Colonel Ismail Tas indicated that for the first time they were offering training services to pilots of another country for a certain fee. Pilots from the UAE are given exactly the same training as the Turkish pilots. The pilots are expected to complete their training on Aug. 31, 2002.
Later reporters were distributed a written statement by Brigader General Ahmet Ergonen. Ergonen, in his statement, said Turkish Air Forces had become one of the world's most experienced air forces through the experience it gained at military exercises held in various places of the world.
First Lieutenant Fahad Mufleh Shehi, one of the pilots who came from the UAE to Turkey for training, said that they knew about the Turkish Air Forces' success on training. He said they were chosen among the best pilots in his country. ''Our pilots are receiving training also in other countries, but there won't be any need for another country after Turkey,'' he commented.
Officials stated that pilots and technical personnel from the UAE would be trained in groups until 2004. Bangladesh and Oman also applied to the Turkish Air Forces for training.