31.12.2014.

Minister Gasic visited on-call units at Batajnica Airport and in Zuce

Minister of Defence Bratislav Gasic visited today the on-call fighter aviation unit of the 204th Air Brigade at the Batajnica Airport. The visit was also attended by Head of the General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic, Air Force and Air Defence Commander Major General Ranko Zivak and Commander of the 204th Air Brigade Brigadier General Predrag Bandic.

During the visit to on-call SAF members that guard the security of the sky over Serbia at Batajnica airport, Minister said that he had talked to them about further plans and wished for them not to have work in the next year, and stressed that “aviation and Serbian Air Force should be invested into more”.

- Their enthusiasm, love and willingness to maintain the level of good operative capabilities give results. I believe that we agree in our great wish to bring back the name of War Air Force and Air Defence, and to make the pride of our military up to par with its task – Minister Gasic said.

General Bandic reminded that the system forces for emergency response at the Batajnica airport are on call 24 hours per 365 days during the year, as a part of the entire system of the Air Defence.

- This day too will not differ from any other when, together with other SAF members, they spend the night in those forces. Colleagues are fully equipped, prepared to fly in the shortest time possible and to respond to threats that might appear over Serbia. They are professionals, patriots and responsible people, and tonight, they are taking care of the safety of the sky over our country – General Bandic said.

Answering to press inquiries, Minister said that, in the next year, members of the Air Force can expect to fly, unlike the previous periods

when they had had two hours and a half of flights each.

- This year, they proudly stress that they have had even up to 40 hours of flight. They have stable supplies of oil products, aircraft are functional, and that is what is most important – Defence Minister concluded.

Answering the question about issues with the confidant for information of public importance and protection of personal data due to “not providing data about pilot training and the number of flights”, and the proscribed sanctions, Gasic said that the Ministry of Defence had forwarded the information about “the part not related to the issues of state and military secrecy”.
- Sanctions can be proscribed, but I cannot reveal a military secret no matter what that might cost me, because I do not wish to give any piece of information of state importance – Minister Gasic stated.

He also told the journalists that one of the topics at the recently held 3rd summit of leaders from 16 countries of Central and Eastern Europe and China was the issue of the opinion on Chinese aircraft in the context of possibility of procurement via exchange.

Minister Gasic and General Dikovic also visited tonight members of the on-call battery of the 250th Missile Air Defence Brigade in Zuce.