Sarajevo International Airport by Zahid Krkic/News
05/02/04/OHR  BH Civil Aviation Newsletter
Office of the High Representative for BIH Postwar Civil Aviation in BiH was effectively relaunched by the publication of the Civil Aviation Master Plan, drawn up by an EC/ICAO commission and published in July 1996. The plan led to the first EC/ICAO project, covering immediate priorities for air navigation services.Sarajevo Airport was reopened to civilian traffic in August 1996. Since then, the EC/ICAO project has been implemented in stages, allowing the progressive restoration of BiH sovereignty over its own airspace.BiH has had to win back recognition as a full member of the European air network. This process has seen the reopening of air routes between BiH and Serbia and Montenegro, integration in the European Civil Aviation Conference, and the establishment of the National Search and Rescue Centre, in Banja Luka in 2002.During 2003 the BiH authorities assumed full control of Sarajevo Airport. In addition a BiH Civil Aviation Law was enacted in December 2003. BiH is now preparing to become a full partner with EUROCONTROL and the European Joint Aviation Authorities.
Major dates in Civil aviation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
11 July 1996
Publication of the first BH Civil Aviation Master Plan.
August 1996
Sarajevo Airport reopens for commercial traffic, the first BiH airport to do so.
11 September 1997
Signature of the MOU between the Council of Ministers and the International Community and creation of the BiH DCA.
October 1998
SFOR reallocates to the BiH DCA the whole of BiH’s upper airspace. (FL4 330 up to FL 450)
April 1999 till August 2001
First stage of the EC/ICAO project
August 1999
First Civil Aviation Law with the legal establishment of the effective role of FED.CAD and
RS.CAD.

27 January 2000
SFOR restores BiH’s commercial upper airspace, from FL 290 up to FL 390, to BiH DCA.
By agreement, air traffic control of this airspace is shared between FATCA of Belgrade and ATSA of Zagreb. A portion of “en route” charges is reimbursed to BiH.

31 August 2001
Responsibility for intermediate airspace (FL100 up FL 290) is transferred from SFOR
to BiH DCA. CCL10 of Zagreb provides control within this airspace. (CCL as successor of ATSA)

10 October 2001
Restoration of the upper airspace is extended to FL 410
November 2001
Signature and starting of the second stage of the EC/ICAO project, called EC/ICAO OPAS project
27 September 2002
BiH becomes a member of the ECAC
Abbreviations:
MOU-Memorandum Of Understanding
DCA-Department of Civil Aviation
SFOR-Stabilization FORCE
FL-Flight level, (FL x 100 = thousands of feet, FL 330 = 33 000 feet)
EC-European Community
ICAO-International Civil Aviation Organization
CAD-Civil Aviation Department
FATCA-Federal Air Traffic Control Authority
ATSA-Air Traffic Service Authority
CCL-Croatia Control Limited
OPAS-Operational Assistance
ECAC-European Civil Aviation Conference
SIA-Sarajevo International Airport company
CARDS-Community Assistance for Reconstruction Development and Stabilization
ASATC-Aviation Safety and Air Traffic Control.

01 March 2004
BiH becomes a member of the EUROCONTROL

Mostar Airport
Mostar Airport is one of the keys to economic regeneration in the area. Due to its optimal geographical situation, it could provide all kinds of services for the region throughout the entire year. The Airport was rebuilt in 1998, mostly with European aid (the EU has invested four million Euros in the Airport during the last six years). Competence over the Airport has recently been transferred from Mostar Municipalities with a Croat majority to the City of Mostar. (The City took over competencies regulated by the Interim Statute, which was a precondition for further investment by the Federation Government, the Canton, and the City.) Currently, the City authorities together with their partners are working on fulfilling technical conditions for a successful hand-over of the Airport’s maintenance from SFOR to the City of Mostar.
OHR, February 5, 2004
--NEWS HOME--