Statement by the Director General, Mr. Milan Mokovic, MSc

 

The Civil Aviation Directorate, as the civil aviation authority in the Republic of Serbia, has issued the “Nikola Tesla” Airport a Category IIIB Certificate which permits the use of aerodromes under low visibility conditions. The Certificate enters into force at midnight, November 20, 2008.

 

The Category IIIB enables landing where the Runway Visual Range (RVR) is greater than 75 m and enables take off where RVR is greater than 150 m. These operational limits were defined by the Directorate as safety limits at this point.

 

The Civil Aviation Directorate has strictly followed the international rules during the procedure of issuing the Category IIIB Certificate, and has given precedence to the safety and security of passengers and cargo as well as the interests of the Republic of Serbia. I would also like to underscore the constant support that we have had from the Minister of Infrastructure.

 

In the previous years, the Public Corporation “Nikola Tesla Airport” and the Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services Agency Ltd. have vested exceptional efforts under both national and international standards for the achievement of this objective. Therefore it was necessary among other things to install additional equipment, to reorganise the services, carry out the mandatory training of personnel, provide additional funds and prepare all documents necessary for the international recognition.

 

After having monitored the activities of the Public Corporation “Nikola Tesla Airport” and the Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services Agency Ltd. for over ten years the Civil Aviation Directorate was finally able to with exceptional effort and a tight deadlines verify and approve all final individual phases for Category IIIB, in the course of four months, making the “Nikola Tesla Airport” ready to cope with the first fog.

 

We can now proudly say that the Nikola Tesla Airport is on equal grounds with its counterparts around the world.