Antalya Bilim University Hosts the 10th International Aviator of the Year Awards
The “International Aviator of the Year 2025” Award Ceremony, hosted by Antalya Bilim University, was held on December 6, 2025, at the University’s Main Campus. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the event has firmly established itself as one of the most prestigious aviation awards worldwide, contributing significantly to Türkiye’s strategic vision in aviation.
The program opened with a Red Carpet ceremony at 5:00 p.m. Throughout the evening, outstanding international achievements in aviation were honored, while the event served as a high-level global platform bringing together distinguished participants from Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Russia, the United States, Switzerland, and Türkiye.
In his keynote address, Prof. Dr. Semih Ekercin, Rector of Antalya Bilim University, emphasized that the University considers hosting inspiring events that strengthen international cooperation as a strategic responsibility. He stated that this ceremony is not merely an award program, but a powerful meeting point that showcases Türkiye’s progress in science, technology, and aviation on an international scale. He further highlighted that the interaction created by international participants makes a valuable contribution to the promotion of Türkiye and the continuous development of the aviation ecosystem.
Within the scope of this year’s awards, the champions of the historic Six Lakes Air Rally, held in Como, Italy and boasting a 100-year legacy, were also honored. Natalia Khludova, Gabriele Ermecini, Gabriele Ferruzi, and Alessandro Ganci received awards for their achievements. The attendance of Como Mayor Alessandro Rapinese, accompanied by his daughter, added further international visibility to the ceremony.
In the “All-Time Aviators” category, the award recipients included Capt. Adnan Okudan (Pegasus Airlines), world champion Sebastian Piotr Kawa (Poland), aviation equipment manufacturer Arman Etyemez, FAI World President Greg Principato, President of the Aviation Medicine Platform Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Çetingüç, and test pilot Murat Keleş. The “Aviator of the Year” Award was presented to Tobias Bretzel, CEO of AERO Friedrichshafen, Germany.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished members of the Antalya protocol, including Deputy Governor Dr. Suat Seyitoğlu and Konyaaltı District Governor Rahmi Köse.
The International Aviator of the Year 2025 Award Ceremony concluded as a prestigious gathering that once again demonstrated Antalya Bilim University’s vision of hosting internationally recognized events, while bringing the inspiring success stories of the global aviation community to Antalya.
