Ottoman aviation became active relatively early, and significant advancements were made across various fields of aviation. In 1912, officers were sent abroad for pilot training as part of early efforts to build an aviation force. The first pilots to receive formal flight training were Captain Fesa and Lieutenant Yusuf Kenan Bey. At that time, however, the idea of women pilots was not even considered.
The presence of women in Turkish aviation can be said to have begun in the 1930s, yet a landmark development occurred much earlier, in 1913, regarding the role of women in aviation. That year, a Turkish woman flew in an aircraft for the first time, an event that attracted significant attention in aviation history.
The world’s first woman to fly was Thérèse Peltier of France, who in 1908 completed a flight of approximately 200 meters in Milan, Italy, becoming the first female airplane passenger. Shortly thereafter, in 1913, Belkıs Şevket Hanım flew in an aircraft, marking a historic achievement in Turkish aviation and bringing international recognition to Turkish women.
The establishment of the Turkish Aeronautical Association (Türk Hava Cemiyeti) in 1925, followed by the founding of Türkkuşu in 1935, significantly accelerated the development of Turkish aviation. With the opening of Türkkuşu, women began to actively participate in aviation and gain visibility within the sector.
By the early 1930s, Turkey’s first woman pilot successfully completed her first solo flight. Bedriye Tahir Gökmen, affectionately referred to as “Bedriye Bacı” by legendary pilot Vecihi Hürkuş, was among the first female students at Hürkuş’s civil aviation school. After completing her training, she earned the title of Turkey’s first woman pilot.
Turkey’s first woman combat pilot, Sabiha Gökçen, achieved remarkable success during reconnaissance and bombing missions in the 1937 Air Operation. In recognition of her accomplishments, she became the first woman to receive the Decorated Medal of the Turkish Aeronautical Association at a ceremony held on May 28, 1937.
From the 1930s onward, women began to take part in all areas of aviation, military, civil, and sporting. In a field dominated by men, women aviation professionals worked with determination and courage, achieving notable successes despite structural barriers.
The liberalization movement that spread across Europe in the 1980s also began to influence Turkey, leading to a significant expansion in the 2000s. The rapid increase in the number of airports and passenger traffic did not entirely eliminate challenges such as societal pressure, restricted access to flight schools, or exclusion from military positions. However, it did contribute to a growing number of resilient women entering aviation without losing motivation.
Today, many aviation organizations place greater emphasis on gender equality initiatives and recognize the importance of women aviators within social sustainability strategies. While the participation of women across all areas of aviation continues to rise, progress toward full equality remains slow, fragile, and incremental.
International organizations, national aviation authorities, and regulatory bodies are actively working to promote gender equality within the aviation sector. In Turkey, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA – SHGM) initiated formal efforts in this area by issuing the Gender Balance Development Directive, which entered into force on April 18, 2018. In accordance with Article 12 of this directive, the “First Women Aviators Registry Announcements” were published for the first time under the heading “Initial Women Aviators Registry Regulations.”