BHANSA opens Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first certified air traffic controller training centre
Bosnia and Herzegovina Air Navigation Services Agency (BHANSA) has opened the country’s first certified air traffic controller training centre, creating domestic capacity to train future generations of air traffic controllers.
The new facility in Mostar will provide training delivered by BHANSA instructors, using modern simulation technology and programmes aligned with European regulatory requirements.
Its opening also marked the start of training for a new generation of 17 air traffic controller candidates, who will begin their professional careers at the centre.
By establishing its own training capability, BHANSA is strengthening national aviation expertise, improving long-term workforce planning and supporting the continued development of safe, efficient and resilient air navigation services in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Davorin Primorac, Director of BHANSA, described the opening as one of the most significant milestones in the organisation’s development.
“We have not simply opened a new centre; we have opened a new chapter in the development of air navigation in our country,” said Primorac. “This is one of the most important moments in BHANSA’s development since its establishment and confirms that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the knowledge, expertise and capacity to develop its own highly qualified aviation professionals.
“We now have our own centre in which new generations of air traffic controllers will be trained – professionals who will help safeguard our skies for decades to come.”
The opening ceremony was attended by Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Zorislav Ivanović, Director General of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Directorate of Civil Aviation; representatives of national institutions and partner organisations; and BHANSA employees.
Minister Forto highlighted the centre’s strategic importance for the country and its aviation sector.
“The opening of the first certified air traffic controller training centre represents a strategic investment in the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Forto. “A country that develops its own professionals for one of the most complex and responsible occupations in civil aviation builds stronger institutions, a safer transport system and greater resilience to future challenges.
“This centre demonstrates that Bosnia and Herzegovina is investing in the people, knowledge and capabilities that contribute to the long-term safety of air transport.”
Forto added that the planned adoption of amendments to the Law on BHANSA, together with a new legislative framework for the Bosnia and Herzegovina Directorate of Civil Aviation, could enable BHANSA to provide training not only for its own operational requirements but also for the wider market.
“This would give Bosnia and Herzegovina an opportunity to become a regionally recognised centre for the development of aviation professionals,” he said.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina Directorate of Civil Aviation formally presented BHANSA with the certificate confirming that the organisation had met the prescribed requirements for the provision of air traffic controller training.
Zorislav Ivanović, Director General of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Directorate of Civil Aviation, said that the certification process had been both demanding and comprehensive.
“Meeting stringent regulatory requirements in such a complex field confirms the expertise and seriousness with which BHANSA approached this project,” said Ivanović.
“I am particularly pleased with the excellent cooperation between BHANSA and the Directorate, founded on professionalism, trust and a shared commitment to safety. This centre demonstrates what can be achieved when institutions work in partnership towards a clear objective – the continued development of civil aviation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
The new training centre forms part of BHANSA’s wider commitment to developing domestic professional capacity and investing continuously in people, knowledge and technology. It will help ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the expertise and resources required to manage growing and evolving air traffic safely, efficiently and sustainably.
