SMATSA llc is building two control towers, in Belgrade and Tivat

Total investment of 10 million eur

SMATSA llc is building two control towers, in Belgrade and Tivat

01.10.2014

Statement of SMATSA LLC’s CEO, Mr. Radojica Rovčanin to Tanjug news agency:

SMATSA LLC is commencing with the realization of two very large and important projects worth around 10 million EUR. These are the construction of two new control towers, at airport Belgrade and airport Tivat. I got the idea about this, with the support of all colleagues from SMATSA LLC, because, first of all, my wish is that the two cities get two new monumental buildings which will, on one hand, captivate with their beauty, and on the other hand, we shall incorporate into them the latest technology that will contribute to improving aviation safety.

Here’s why Belgrade will get its new control tower, which, I am quite sure, will become its new trademark. The existing control tower was put into operation in 1962, but there has been a rapid increase in air traffic in recent decades, which calls for improvement of air traffic control system. An illustration regarding the same is: when Belgrade tower control started operating, the number of 371 aircraft per year was overflying this part of Europe. Today, we have so many aircraft in just one hour of traffic. Therefore, we need to improve Belgrade control tower technologically, and, when we are doing this, we shall do our best to make it a building that will dazzle with its height, luxury, style and beauty. This project will have been completed in 3 years. By the way, Aerodrome Control (ADC) Belgrade is one of the ten organizational units within SMATSA LLC besides the aerodrome controls: Vršac, Batajnica, Niš, Užice, Kraljevo, Podgorica, Tivat and Priština. By the establishment of Air Serbia and the new flight schedule for this season, there has been an increase in air traffic at the Belgrade airport, which directly affects the number of take-offs and landings which has risen by 30 percent compared to the last year and which is about 7 thousand and 300 take-offs and landings on a monthly basis. That’s why we need a new control tower in Belgrade.

When it comes to airport Tivat, a new control tower will have been completed by the end of the next year and we shall do our best that it is put into operation until the beginning of the tourist season. Thus, we shall create conditions for better performance with higher quality technique, which will contribute to easier and better functioning of all services at the airport. The same technology as in Belgrade will be installed in this tower, and in this way, airport Tivat will have solved the question of the tower for the next 20 years. We care very much that this tower also becomes an architectural masterpiece that tourists will see first and admire when they have landed at Tivat airport.

It gives me a great pleasure that our two Governments – the founders, Serbia and Montenegro, are proud of SMATSA LLC, not only because we significantly contribute to the budgets of both countries, but also because the know-how investments and a clear vision of the future provide a safe air traffic in the way that is better than in many developed countries in the west. Regarding this, a special recognition of our umbrella organization – Eurocontrol was extended to us, ranking us, by all criteria, among the best companies in Europe.