Drone highways will be created

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu made statements regarding the UAV corridors to be created within the scope of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems Instruction (SHT-İHA) published by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM) on July 30, 2026.

Stating that the new regulation has created a legal framework for long-distance, non-line-of-sight and autonomous flights of unmanned aerial vehicles in designated airspace corridors, Uraloğlu said, "We will create digitally defined airways in the sky. Thus, unmanned aerial vehicles will be able to fly safely and in a controlled manner on designated routes. We will pave the way for a new transportation opportunity independent of road traffic." he said.

ROUTES OF DRONE HIGHWAYS WILL BE DEFINED DIGITALLY

Stating that UAV corridors, also known as drone highways, will be created by DGCA in coordination with relevant institutions and organizations, Minister Uraloğlu stated that the boundaries of the corridors, entry and exit points, flight directions, capacities and minimum separation criteria between aircraft will be defined in the digital environment.

Uraloğlu said, "All this information will be published on the central digital platform of our General Directorate of Civil Aviation, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Tracking and Traffic Management System (IHATTYS). The software of the unmanned aerial vehicles will be able to read this data directly and the flights will be carried out within the framework of the determined rules. We will plan the corridors in a way that will not interrupt the prohibited, restricted and dangerous areas and the areas for which NOTAM has been issued." He made a statement.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SUPPORTED AUTONOMOUS FLIGHTS WILL BE REALIZED

Stating that long-distance and non-line-of-sight autonomous flights can be carried out in UAV corridors, Uraloğlu stated that flight routes will be created with the support of artificial intelligence.

Minister Uraloğlu said, "The routes of autonomous flights will be determined with the support of artificial intelligence based on the shortest path and phase difference. The control of the flights will be provided through IHATTYS. In necessary cases, flight limits can be narrowed, the route can be changed, vehicles can be landed or flights can be terminated. In case of loss of connection, unmanned aerial vehicles will be directed to predetermined rescue areas without passing over residential areas." he said.

DRONE HIGHWAYS WILL BE USED IN LOGISTICS AND HEALTH TRANSPORTATION

Providing information about the usage areas of UAV corridors, Minister Uraloğlu stated that the new system will offer important opportunities, especially in logistics and health transportation.

Uraloğlu said, "We will be able to use drone highways in intercity cargo transportation and regular autonomous flights between logistics and transfer centers. Blood, medicine, vaccines and medical samples can be transported between hospitals. Supply can be provided to islands and settlements where transportation is difficult in winter months. Parts can be transferred between organized industrial zones, factories and ports. In addition, these corridors can be used for long-distance inspections of energy transmission lines, pipelines, railways and highways." he said.

UAV CORRIDORS WILL BE CLOSED TO HOBBY FLIGHTS

Minister Uraloğlu emphasized that the flights to be carried out in the UAV corridors will be subject to certain authorization and technical conditions and said, "These corridors will be closed to hobby flights. Only pilots with a P2 license will be able to fly within authorized enterprises by obtaining the necessary operational authorizations from the DGCA. The unmanned aerial vehicles to be used will be required to be registered, have remote identification, geographical limitation and necessary software certificates. Notification will be made via IHATTYS before each flight." He made a statement.

Uraloğlu added that the routes of the UAV corridors will be determined in coordination with the relevant institutions in line with the needs and will be announced through IHATTYS.