The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of the Republic of Türkiye, through its Gender Balance Development Committee, recognized Naciye Toros with the title of “Türkiye’s First Female Glider Pilot”. She made significant contributions to the development of Turkish aviation and became a role model for women.
Graduating from Çapa Girls’ Teacher Training School in 1931, Toros dedicated her career to advancing both her country and women’s achievements. Until 1936, she worked as a teacher in schools under the Ministry of National Education. During this time, she became intrigued by a civil aviation event organized by the Turkish Aeronautical Association’s Türkkuşu flight school at Istanbul University. She enrolled in glider training courses held in the university garden and quickly developed a passion for aviation, later traveling to the İnönü Camp of the Turkish Aeronautical Association for advanced glider flight training.
Established in 1936, the İnönü Glider Camp marked a turning point in Türkiye’s civil aviation history. Open to all literate citizens, the camp provided three months of summer training, awarding successful students with pilot badges. It became instrumental in training young aviators and spreading aviation culture nationwide.
In a Türkiye still unaccustomed to women aviators, Naciye Toros continued her training at İnönü alongside legendary aviator Sabiha Gökçen. Their first joint glider flight took place in 1936. While Gökçen had received her initial glider training at Türkkuşu in 1935 and advanced glider instruction in the Soviet Union, she also served as an instructor for the Turkish Aeronautical Association, during which she flew with Toros.
Leaving her teaching position, Toros pursued flight training full-time. In 1937, she completed her first solo glider flight, becoming Türkiye’s first female glider pilot. Her passion for aviation drove her to work toward earning her powered aircraft license, a challenging feat at the time, especially for a woman. It required strict military-style training, solo flights, proficiency in various weather conditions, mechanical knowledge, and unwavering determination.
Toros had already met the primary prerequisite, glider certification, and with her skill and persistence, she also earned her powered aircraft license. This achievement made her not only the first female glider pilot but also one of the most accomplished aviators of her era. She was invited by the Turkish Aeronautical Association to teach at Türkkuşu, where she shared her knowledge and inspired new generations of women in aviation. From 1938 to 1944, she trained young aviators for nearly six years.
Later, she married a fellow aviator, had two children, and concluded her teaching career at Türkkuşu, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire women in Turkish aviation history.