In July 2026, the eyes of the world were on Ankara. The 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit brought the leaders of all 32 member nations to the Turkish capital, and with them came some of the most closely watched aircraft on the planet.
At the centre of the logistical challenge was a question that most people never think about: where do you land 44 government aircraft, including a Boeing 747-8 that weighs 442 tonnes and has a wingspan wider than most runways can handle?
The answer was Etimesgut Air Base. And getting it ready required a $120 million renovation programme that transformed a Cold War-era military airfield into a modern, ICAO Category F airport in just eight months. That renovation included a complete modernisation of the airfield ground lighting system, supplied by AES Airport Solutions.
A New Air Force One and the Airport Problem It Created
The aircraft that drove the entire renovation was the new Air Force One. Not the two ageing Boeing VC-25A jets that have served presidents since 1990, but a brand-new Boeing 747-8 that arrived in the United States through one of the most unusual procurement stories in modern aviation history.
The aircraft was originally built for the Qatari royal family as a VIP transport. It was designed by Cabinet Alberto Pinto, one of the most prestigious interior design houses in the world, and fitted out with private suites, sycamore and wacapou wood panelling, handmade Tai Ping carpets, two full bathrooms, nine lavatories, and multiple lounge and conference areas. All of this for a maximum of 89 passengers. President Trump described it as «the world’s most luxurious plane» during its unveiling at Joint Base Andrews on 19 June 2026 (source: CBS News, 20 June 2026).
Qatar donated the aircraft to the United States, and defence contractor L3Harris spent roughly ten months modifying it for presidential use, adding hardened communications systems, classified briefing capability, and other security features. The total cost of the modification programme was reported at approximately $400 million (source: CBS News). The aircraft was officially designated the VC-25B Bridge, intended to serve as a temporary presidential aircraft while Boeing continues work on two purpose-built VC-25B replacements that have been delayed by years and billions of dollars in cost overruns.
Here is where the airport problem comes in. The Boeing 747-8 is 76.3 metres long, has a wingspan of 68.4 metres, and a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 442 tonnes. It falls into ICAO Aerodrome Reference Code F, the highest classification for commercial aircraft. Only the 747-8 and the Airbus A380 require Category F infrastructure.
Before the renovation, Etimesgut’s runway was 2,450 metres long and 42 metres wide. That did not even meet ICAO Category E standards, let alone Category F. The new Air Force One simply could not land there.
The Lighting Upgrade
When an airport is upgraded to Category F, the lighting system needs to match. Higher approach categories, wider runways, longer taxiways, and a new apron all require a corresponding AGL installation that meets current ICAO and international standards.
The lighting modernisation at Etimesgut covered the full scope: runway lighting (edge, centreline, threshold, and end lights), approach lighting systems, taxiway lighting (edge and centreline), signage, and the associated power supply and CCR infrastructure.
AES Airport Solutions supplied Airsafe AGL products for this project. For us, seeing our lighting system in operation on the night that Air Force One touched down was a moment of real pride. Every fitting on that airfield had to work, and it did.
The Night It All Came Together
On 7 July 2026, the new Air Force One carrying President Trump landed at Etimesgut Air Base ahead of the NATO summit. It was the largest aircraft to ever use the airfield, and the first time the renovated runway, apron, taxiways, and lighting system were tested under the full weight (literally) of a ICAO Category F operation with the entire world watching.
The runway, the taxiways, the apron, and the lighting system all performed exactly as designed. The $120 million renovation delivered what it promised: a facility capable of handling the most demanding aircraft and the highest-profile operations in the world.
What Category F Means for Airfield Lighting
Most commercial airports operate at ICAO Aerodrome Reference Code C, D, or E. Category F is reserved for the very largest aircraft and requires wider runways, greater separation distances between taxiways, and correspondingly larger and more precisely configured lighting systems.
For AGL specifically, a wider runway means more edge light fittings spaced further apart, longer runs of centreline lights, and approach lighting systems that need to be visible from greater distances. Taxiway lighting for Category F operations must account for the wider turning radii and greater wingtip clearance that aircraft like the 747-8 and A380 require. Every light position, every beam angle, and every intensity level must be specified and installed to match the larger geometry.
Getting all of this right in eight months, on a military airfield that had not previously been designed for this class of aircraft, was a significant engineering and logistical achievement.
AES in Turkey: A Growing Presence
The Etimesgut project is not the first time AES Airport Solutions has delivered AGL equipment in Turkey. We also recently completed the approach lighting installation at Uşak Airport in the Aegean region, further establishing our presence in a country that manages over 50 airports.
Turkey represents one of the most dynamic airport markets in Europe and the Middle East, and we look forward to supporting more projects across the country.
REFERENCES
- CBS News: «Trump unveils new Air Force One, a $400 million plane gifted by Qatar» (20 June 2026)
- Daily Sabah: «Erdoğan inaugurates Ankara Airport ahead of NATO summit» (15 June 2026)
- Luxurylaunches: «Turkey had to spend more than $120 million rebuilding an entire military airport runway» (8 July 2026)
- Wikipedia: «Etimesgut Air Base» and «Boeing VC-25B Bridge»