The Report on occurrences for 2020 was adopted
In 2020, there were no accidents in Montenegro in terms of commercial and non-commercial operations of civil aircraft, paragliding operations, casualties in the field of air traffic, nor occurrences classified as serious accidents, it was concluded in the Annual Report on occurrences for 2020, which was adopted by the Civil Aviation Agency. The aim of this report is to improve air traffic safety, to determine the circumstances and causes of occurrences, as well as to promote measures to prevent their recurrence.
In the year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, air traffic over the territories of Montenegro and Serbia (territories under the jurisdiction of SMATSA) is at the level of 40% compared to 2019. The decline of operations also reflected in the reported occurrences. The total number of occurrences of importance for air traffic safety, reported to the Agency during 2020 in Montenegro and abroad, in which participated aircraft registered in Montenegro, is 129. For a total number of four reported occurrences, an additional analysis of the Civil Aviation Agency was performed.
Most reported occurrences are from three categories:
- WSTRW (Wind shear or thunderstorm) - occurrences where "wind shear" occurred - typical for Tivat Airport when the weather conditions are complex. In this category, there are also occurrences related to unstable approaches - UNST. These are reports received through FDM activities (without affecting the flight).
- BIRD (Bird strikes) - collision between a bird and an aircraft. The presence of birds increased, among other things, due to the peculiarities of localities near international airports (nature, reserves, river canyons, large area under the vineyard), but also due to the fact that Montenegro is on the migration corridor of birds in the north-south direction, due to landfills and uncontrolled disposal of garbage that is a food source for birds. Additionally, the flight break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic favored to increased presence of birds and wildlife in the vicinity of Podgorica and Tivat airports.
- A/C TECH (Aircraft technical failure or malfunction) - occurrences related to failure or malfunction of an aircraft system or component (SCF-NP).
Analyzing other categories in the reported occurrences, a relatively stable trend of occurrences has been identified related to failure or malfunction of an aircraft system or component, aircraft maintenance, use of unmanned aircraft (drones), occurrences caused by transport of dangerous goods, FOD, laser interference and unauthorized entry into controlled airspace (mostly by paraglider pilots, drones and general aviation pilots).
In the extraordinary circumstances introduced by the current COVID-19 pandemic, the focus of the Agency's activities was on constant communication with representatives of international aviation organizations and aviation entities in Montenegro, in order to create preconditions for safe continuation of flights and to prepare aviation entities to continue safe operations at a given level. Special communication was established with the airport operator and aircraft operators, in order to pay special attention to this segment in flight preparations.
Having in mind above mentioned, the Report states that the safety of air traffic in Montenegro is at an acceptable level, where it is necessary for aviation entities to realistically consider trends in their own operations, to identify hazards, analyze risks and propose measures to reduce them. Such approach of aviation entities enables the creation of an efficient safety management system, management of all analyzed risks and efficient monitoring of the trend of air traffic operations in Montenegro.
The Agency will, through regular supervision and inspections, check and determine the degree of implementation of the mentioned items, as well as the actions of aviation entities in accordance with the positive trend of its own operations and identified hazards.
