Pilotium Editorial Team
Apr 20, 2026
If you're a pilot working for a Turkish airline on an EASA license, 2026 is a year you cannot afford to ignore from a regulatory standpoint. The landscape is changing — and understanding your options now is critical to protecting your career.
The Core Difference
The Turkish DGCA — known as SHGM — issues pilot licenses under SHT-FCL regulations. While these mirror EASA Part-FCL almost exactly in structure, they are not interchangeable. A Turkish DGCA license does not allow you to fly EASA-registered aircraft in European airspace. Equally, EASA licenses are not automatically valid for operations under Turkish regulatory oversight.
Turkey is not an EU member state and is not part of EASA's regulatory framework. This means Turkish and EASA licenses exist as two separate systems — pilots working across both environments need to understand exactly where each license is valid and what obligations come with each.
The 2026 Regulatory Shift
Turkish airlines are now required to ensure pilots operating their aircraft comply with DGCA regulatory requirements. For EASA-licensed pilots currently employed at Turkish carriers, this creates a clear decision point — convert to a DGCA license, maintain both licenses independently, or risk losing the ability to operate.
The deadline for compliance is December 31, 2026. That gives affected pilots time to act — but not unlimited time.
Your Three Options
Option 1 — Convert your EASA license to DGCA This gives you full operational validity within Turkey's regulatory framework. Importantly, converting does not mean losing your EASA license — your EASA license remains valid independently. The DGCA issues a Turkish license in addition to your existing EASA license.
The conversion process under SHT-1LC requires passing DGCA theoretical exams in Air Law and Human Performance, meeting flight time requirements and completing a skill test with an approved examiner.
Option 2 — Maintain both licenses independently For pilots who want to keep their options open for European operations, maintaining a valid EASA license independently alongside a DGCA license is the most flexible approach. This requires keeping your EASA revalidations and renewals current — which, critically, your airline is no longer obligated to arrange on your behalf.
This is where many pilots currently face a practical challenge. Without airline-scheduled EASA LPCs and skill tests, pilots must organize and fund their own revalidations through approved EASA TRE/TRI examiners and ATOs.
Option 3 — Convert fully to DGCA and let EASA lapse This is the simplest administrative path but the most limiting career-wise. Once your EASA license lapses, returning to European operations requires going through a full renewal process — significantly more costly and time-consuming than a regular revalidation.
For any pilot with ambitions beyond Turkey, allowing the EASA license to lapse is a decision that should not be taken lightly.
The Smart Move
The pilots who will navigate this transition best are those who act early, keep both licenses valid and use the remaining time before the December 2026 deadline to get organized.
Keeping your EASA license current requires access to EASA-certified TRE/TRI examiners and approved simulators. This is no longer something your airline will automatically provide — it is now your personal responsibility.
How Pilotium Can Help
Pilotium works directly with EASA-certified TRE/TRI examiners and approved ATOs to organize revalidations, renewals and skill tests for pilots who need to handle this independently.
Whether you need an LPC, a skill test or guidance on navigating the conversion process, we can connect you with the right professionals quickly and efficiently.
With a physical presence at IFTC — one of Turkey's most respected private simulator facilities — we have the infrastructure to support you through this transition.
