EN TR

Article

The 2nd Air Supply and Maintenance Center Command

The 2nd Air Supply and Maintenance Center Command was established on October 06, 1926 under the contract, signed with German Junkers Airplane Factory to lay the foundation of Turkish Aerospace Industry in the early years of the Republic.

Date: Issue 11 - June 2008


At the beginning, activities were started with airplane and engine overhaul, and then in 1932 and subsequently, activities were shifted to aircraft manufacturing. From 1932 to 1947, totally 134 airplanes of different types were manufactured. Similarly, Depot Level Maintenances of 24-type aircraft and engine overhauls of 14-type engine were carried out.
During the following years, depot level maintenance capabilities of all types of helicopters and various types of propeller airplanes, entered in the inventory of Turkish Air Force, were gained, and all types of depot level maintenance repair and modification of these airplanes were performed successfully.
Airplane factory which started to operate with limited facilities, equipment and personnel in 1926 has closely followed the technology from its foundation to date, and with the re-modernization (REMO) projects, fulfilled in 1960s and 1980s, has renewed itself continually. Today, 2nd ASMC Command is a technology center which performs activities so as to meet the requirements of modern era with its modern benches, equipment and certified personnel.
Among the basic activities of the 2nd ASMC Command, there exist overhaul, maintenance and repair of all support aircraft in the inventory of Turkish Air Forces Command; KC-135 (Boeing 707) Air Refueling Aircraft, C-130 Hercules Middle-Range Transportation Aircraft, C-160 Transall Middle-Range Transportation Aircraft, CN-235 Casa Short-Range Transportation Aircraft, CIT-II, CIT VII, GULF-IV Command Control Aircrafts; and Boeing 737-700 Airborne Early Warning & Control Aircraft (AEW&C), Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) and A-400M Airbus Long-Range Strategic Transportation Aircraft, to be entered in the inventory in a short time, as well as propeller training aircraft, aircraft piston engines, aircraft accessories and ground systems. In addition, being the main manufacturing center of Turkish Air Forces, various-type manufactures are also performed, and engineering as well as supply services are provided to weapon systems under the responsibility of the 2nd ASMC Command. While performing the above-mentioned activities, otal Quality activities are given high priority.
The 2nd ASMC Command owns TS-EN-ISO 9001:2000 Quality Assurance System Certificate, AQAP 2110 Quality Assurance System Certificate, TURKAK-AFMETCAL Calibration Certificate and JAR-145 Aircraft and Units Maintenance Standard Quality Certificates.
Approximately 1500 technical personnel in total, about 150 of whom are engineers in different branches, 1100 technicians, who are specialized in various branches with their deep experience, and about 300 office staff, etc. serve for the 2nd ASMC Command facilities.
The personnel specialized and highly experienced in their branches - provide all maintenance, repair, overhaul and modification services to KC-135R, C-130, C-160 aircraft, and SF-260D and T-41D training planes in modern A/C maintenance hangars and technological supporting work¬shops.
Our A/C maintenance hangars and workshops provide all technical support within the scope of revolving funds for aviation fields of some civil and public organizations and also for Air Force departments of some foreign countries. In this context, the 2nd ASMC Command has given and will give maintenance, repair, modification and painting support and services to some civil aviation aircraft and helicopters, and also for aircraft of various countries (C-130 and CASA aircraft for US, C-130 aircraft for Norway, etc).
The 2nd ASMC Command also has the capability of carrying out overhaul and repair operations for various A/C piston aircraft engines, and performs overhaul and repair operations of all A/C piston engines successfully.
A-3

Within the scope of repair and overhaul services given to A/C accessories, operations for Engine Accessories, Instrument Board Indicators, UHF/VHF Radios, Navigation Systems, Instrument Landing Systems, Radomes, Fuel Systems, Air Conditioning Systems, Propeller Systems and Hydraulic Systems are performed.
In addition to all aforementioned repairs, maintenance and other services, the 2nd ASMC Command serves as the main manufacturing center of Turkish Air Forces. Using six (6) main manufacturing technologies, the 2nd ASMC Command has currently the capability to manufacture over 15000 items, units and spare parts, including A/C structural items, flight mission equipment, sealing elements, hoses and tubes, ballistic protective elements, A/C drag chutes, pilot chutes, cargo chutes, personnel chutes, protective helmets for pilots, tank crew and parachutists, wartime (combat) helmets, ground support equipment and test benches. The said technologies are as follows:
* Machining Technologies (lathing-milling-grinding)
* Sheet Metal Forming Technologies (cutting/ bending- tube and hose)
* Hot Working Technologies (welding-casting-forging- heat treatment)
* Finishing Technologies (coating-painting-sandblasting)
* Composite Technologies (rubber-thermo plastics-Ballistics group)
* Textile Technologies (parachute- polyester fabric).

Furthermore, 300 and 370 gallon fuel tanks and pylons belonging to F-16 aircraft and AIM-9 Launcher Adapters as well as Weapon Pylons (WWP) have been manufactured so far under the contracts signed with LM, GD and SFI.
In conclusion,
All Supply Maintenance Centers, particularly the 2nd ASMC Command within the structure of Turkish Armed Forces should be distinguished from the usual factories which produce only a kind of product or provide single type of service in civil sector. Especially Air Supply Maintenance Centers (ASMC) subordinate to Air Force Command are indeed Technological Centers - more than just an ordinary factory. The said centers are a Technical Authority responsible for ensuring that the aircraft and other weapon systems under their responsibility can operate in a safe, economic and effective manner during their lifecycle, which carry out a successful configuration management providing operational adequacy and flightworthiness. In this context, not only depot level maintenance and repair activities of the mentioned systems are carried out but also such problems as defects/failures which cannot be corrected in unit level are solved by this Technical Authority.
The 2nd ASMC Command has also the capability to provide modification on weapon systems, if necessary for meeting the technical requirements according to analyses and evaluations it makes. Thus, it is known worldwide with its capabilities and its international quality and service certificates. In this context, the 2nd ASMC Command, being the only technological center in its field with respect to the geography it is located in is the only organization which can supply aforementioned services not only to our country but also to neighboring countries, European and other countries.

The 2nd ASMC Command will continue to maintain its prominence in Turkish Defense Industries also in future as in the past, through the activities it performs, prudent visional approaches it applies and its operationally critical technological capabilities and will always be one of its essential structure stones.