Serbian Armed Forces Helicopter Pilots Undergoing Flight Training
Thursday, 5.3.2026 | Training
Intensive training for flight personnel from the 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron “Pegasus”, 204th Air Force Brigade, is being carried out at the Military Airfield Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlović in Batajnica and on the outskirts of Belgrade.
Mi-17, H-145 and Gazelle helicopters are flown, and the training is carried out with the aim of maintaining and improving the level of pilots’ combat proficiency and unit’s ability to perform assigned tasks.
In the squadron, the field training of Military Academy cadets — future helicopter pilots, who are being trained for initial roles in the Serbian Armed Forces units— is being implemented.
Helicopter flight instructor Captain 1st Class Jovica Vasić explains what a flying day in the unit looks like.
— At the flight demonstration, the flight instructor goes over the flight execution with his cadets once again for that day and makes sure the cadets are ready to fly and have understood the task correctly. The teachers and cadets then go to the executive preparation hall, where the flight manager introduces them to the flying of other units, medical examination of all pilots flying that day is performed, including the briefing on the weather situation. After the preparation, the flight task and pilot training in the air are carried out — said Captain Vasić, adding that after the flight they did the analysis and preparation for flying for the next day.
Captain Aleksandar Ćirić, a flight instructor, points out that flight training for cadets and SAF Reserve Officers Training participants is very similar.
— As for the training of participants, it consists of two parts. The first one takes place at the Military Academy and lasts three months, while the second one, of the same length, is conducted at the 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron, where the flying is conducted according to the Gazelle helicopter basic flying module. After these six months, the trainees receive the title of officer and with that title they come to the flying unit, continuing to fly according to the remaining four modules — the Gazelle helicopter navigation, instrument, group and night flights — said Captain Ćirić, adding that the experience of working with trainees so far has shown that they successfully cope with the challenges of the military pilot’s profession.
Young men and women willing to become the Serbian Armed Forces pilots have the opportunity to apply by March 31. Graduates who have completed their four-year studies can apply for the advertisement for the SAF Reserve Aviation Officers Military Training, while those who have completed a four-year high school or are in their fourth year of high school can apply for the Military Aviation Study Program at the Military Academy.
