The Civil Aviation Directorate of the Republic of Serbia is hosting the annual Central Data Distribution Region (CDDR) meeting of the international Cospas-Sarsat programme, held from February 3 to 5, 2026, at the SMATSA Area Control Centre premises. The international Cospas-Sarsat programme is a non-profit, intergovernmental organization that operates a global satellite system for detecting and locating activated distress radio beacons, forwarding this information to the relevant search and rescue coordination centres. Since its inception, the system has assisted in saving more than 50,000 lives worldwide. The annual meeting in Belgrade has gathered representatives from CDDR member states, including France, the United Kingdom, Norway, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, and Tunisia, confirming the significance of the event and Serbia’s active role in the international search and rescue system. The gathering was opened by the Director of the Directorate, Mirjana Čizmarov, who emphasized that hosting the meeting in Belgrade represents a token of recognition and trust, as well as a confirmation of the Directorate's capacity as the competent authority for the organization and coordination of the national search and rescue system. Following her remarks, David Poudevigne, Head of the French Mission Control Centre (MCC), addressed the participants, reminding them that Cospas-Sarsat is a living, dynamic network and that such meetings foster productive and substantive discussions. During the three-day event, participants will have the opportunity to discuss operational and technical issues, exchange experiences, and harmonize activities aimed at further improving the efficiency of international cooperation in the field of search and rescue systems.

As part of the development of new technologies and air mobility concepts, Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft represent a new technological category that requires appropriate regulatory oversight. Given the innovative nature of these aircraft and the specifics of their future operational use, the Civil Aviation Directorate of the Republic of Serbia is continuously and intensively working on preparing a suitable national regulatory framework. This process is based on the constant monitoring of European regulations, guidelines, and regulatory practices, as well as coordinated cooperation with all competent authorities and institutions at both national and international levels. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is currently establishing a regulatory framework for VTOL aircraft, covering requirements for aircraft certification, operations, crew training, and integration into existing airspace. To prepare for the introduction of VTOL aircraft, the Republic of Serbia has amended its air transport and pilot training rules by incorporating the relevant European Commission regulation into national legislation. This provides the legal framework for the operation of this type of aircraft. Parallel to the adoption of the relevant regulations, communication has been established with VTOL aircraft manufacturers in order to become familiar with the certification requirements applied by the competent authorities in the countries where these aircraft are produced, considering that these involve new technologies and standards. Additionally, the Directorate's inspectors have undergone specialized training by participating in international seminars and workshops, to enable them to effectively handle anticipated cases related to this type of aircraft. These activities by the Directorate are conducted in accordance with international standards and recommended practices, to ensure the timely response of the Republic of Serbia to the challenges and opportunities arising from this new generation of aviation technologies.

To the Director of the Civil Aviation Directorate of the Republic of Serbia, Mirjana Čizmarov, on January 5, 2026, a recognition plaque was presented during the ceremonial Christmas concert marking the 35th anniversary of the successful operation of Prince Aviation. The recognition plaque, awarded as an expression of gratitude for exceptional cooperation, trust, and long-standing partnership, was presented to Director Čizmarov by the co-founder of Prince Aviation, Slobodan Stričević, and the company’s director, Srđan Kragojević. The awarded plaque represents a confirmation of the Directorate’s many years of dedicated work aimed at strengthening the civil aviation system, through continuous support and open dialogue with aviation entities across the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

The Civil Aviation Directorate of the Republic of Serbia announces that, from 1 January 2026, it will introduce systematic alcohol testing of flight and cabin crew, placing Serbia among the first countries in the region to implement this measure in full. This measure enables the application of ARO.RAMP.106 under the Regulation on the Conditions for Air Operations, which incorporates Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 into national legislation. The legal basis for this measure is set out in recent amendments to the Air Transport Law (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No. 19/25). Alcohol testing will apply to flight and cabin crew of both national and foreign operators using airports in the Republic of Serbia. Tests will be carried out by trained and authorised aviation inspectors in accordance with national law and ARO.RAMP.106. Under the Air Transport Law, a zero-tolerance policy applies to alcohol among aircraft crew. Alcohol levels will be measured using certified and calibrated breath-alcohol testing devices suitable for evidentiary use. Where a crew member refuses testing or returns a positive alcohol test, the inspector will temporarily prohibit the performance of the duties and inform the competent authorities. Testing will normally be conducted on board the aircraft. Data on completed tests will be recorded in a centralised EASA database. All aviation stakeholders in Serbia, including EASA, have been informed of the introduction of this procedure. Available data indicate that Serbia is among the first countries in the region to introduce alcohol testing of aircraft crew, strengthening aviation safety and consistency with European practice.