GORANOVIĆ: 61 FLIGHT HOURS AND 496 TONNES OF WATER DROPPED IN AUGUST TO FIGHT FIRES

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 3 /SRNA/ - The head of the Aviation Authority of the Ministry of the Interior /MoI/ of Republika Srpska, Slavko Goranović, told SRNA that over the past month the Authority participated in firefighting operations in the areas of Nevesinje, Konjic, Istočno Sarajevo /Trebević/ and Trebinje, logging more than 61 flight hours and dropping 496 tonnes of water.

In an interview with the Republika Srpska Media System – SRNA, Goranović stressed that the Aviation Authority of the Republika Srpska Ministry of the Interior had been extensively engaged during the period in providing support to the relevant services in fighting fires.

"Our aircraft and crews represent a significant part of the protection and rescue system, particularly in situations where inaccessible terrain, the rapid spread of fires or threats to the population make an aerial response necessary," said the head of the Aviation Authority of the Republika Srpska Ministry of the Interior.

Goranović explained that aerial firefighting is a complex operation requiring a high level of crew training, reliable equipment, and constant coordination with the Republika Srpska Civil Protection Administration, firefighting units and other services on the ground.

"The Authority has skilled and trained personnel capable of responding to such challenges and providing assistance to the people and institutions of Republika Srpska when it is needed most.

The particular importance of our engagement lies in our rapid response capability and our ability to assist even in hard-to-reach areas, where aircraft are often the fastest and most effective means of responding. Our goal is to use our capabilities to provide reliable support to all protection and rescue services, but above all to all citizens of Republika Srpska," Goranović stressed.


INVESTMENT IN AVIATION — INVESTMENT IN SAFETY OF CITIZENS AND ABILITY OF INSTITUTIONS TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY AND SWIFTLY

Regarding equipment, Goranović said that work is continuously being carried out to maintain and improve the Authority's operational capabilities so that its aircraft and crews can perform a range of tasks, from police operations and search and rescue to firefighting and aerial medical transport.

"The experience gained through our involvement in previous emergencies is an important indicator of the direction in which our capabilities should be developed. Further plans are focused on training flight and technical personnel, upgrading equipment and operational procedures, as well as increasing our capacity to respond to emergencies," Goranović announced.

Modern challenges, including increasingly frequent and intense fires and other emergencies, Goranović said, demonstrate the importance of having our own readily available and well-organized aviation capabilities.

According to him, investing in aviation is not just an investment in equipment, but above all an investment in the safety of citizens and the ability of institutions to respond quickly and effectively.


TIME IS A CRUCIAL FACTOR IN SAVING LIVES; 80 AERIAL MEDICAL TRANSPORTS THIS YEAR

Speaking about air medical transport, Goranović told SRNA that it is of exceptional importance to citizens and the healthcare system of Republika Srpska, as in certain situations, time is a crucial factor in saving a person's life.

The ability to transport a patient from one healthcare facility to another in the shortest possible time, the head of the Aviation Authority stressed, can significantly affect the outcome of their treatment.

"The Aviation Authority of the Republika Srpska Ministry of the Interior, in cooperation with healthcare institutions and the relevant authorities, provides significant support to the healthcare system by carrying out air medical transport operations," Goranović said.

According to him, the particular value of this form of transport lies in its speed, accessibility and ability to make quality medical care available to all citizens, regardless of their distance from a particular healthcare centre.

Goranović stressed that 770 medical transports have been carried out since 2014, including 80 this year alone.

"For this reason, developing and improving air medical transport capabilities is an important part of the overall healthcare and citizen safety system in Republika Srpska," Goranović concluded.