MONTENEGRO IS ON THE TAXI-DRONE MAP

INTERVIEW

Montenegro Is On The TAXI-DRONE MAP

In its business, APM fosters harmonious relations with the responsible ministry and the company’s board of directors. While focused on restructuring, we also strive to recognise potential in-house leaders who can be entrusted with the task of implementation of the European and international aviation standards at the airport level.

GORAN JANDREOSKI

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AIRPORTS OF MONTENEGRO

Sharing the stand with the pioneer countries in the urban air mobility could be of a huge significance for Montenegro and its international image. I believe the concept of a drone-taxi will be greatly welcomed, and on our part we will certainly do our best to justify the trust bestowed upon us - says director Jandreoski.

■ Have you managed to cope with

all the challenges, to make use of your possibilities and realize at least some of your plans?

- Continuity is the underlying principle of my work. In the last 11 months, with the support of my team, not only have I shown consistency in achieving the targeted goals, but I have also transformed what had been plans into company success. While focused on restructuring, we also strive to recognise potential in-house leaders who can be entrusted with the task of implementation of the European and international aviation standards at the airport level. Continuous staff training has been brought to the foreground of the APM development. I am proud that on weekly basis we organize various types of job-specific training courses for the personnel throughout the organisation hierarchy

■ How far have you come with the

planned international certification of both airports?

- Although aware of the complexity and challenges of the international airport certification process, we remained undeterred and got down to business without much ado. At the moment, three aeronautical studies are being prepared for Podgorica Airport, to be submitted to the Civil Aviation Agency. Therefore, I expect certification of Podgorica Airport is just a matter of time. Tivat Airport period last year, the season has already begun. Management and staff are focused and absolutely ready to accept the increased number of aircraft and passengers. But we are also facing some banal problems. For example, despite the fact that we have long had money to repair the roof and the cooling and heating system at Tivat airport, tenders are failing because there are no interested bidders. But I expect that my colleagues in the administration will find a good way to solve these problems.

■ When will the conditions be

created for Tivat to be the third place in Europe for air taxi drones after Paris and Milan?

- At the end of last year we took the initiative of writing to Volokopter, which

Given the actual figures and the traffic, which is already greater than in the same period last year, the tourist season has already begun

is an entirely different story, given it involves intervention of the Ministry of Capital Investment, Municipality, Coastal Zone Management Authority and other key stakeholders, and calls for compliance with both national regulations and international standards.

■ Are Podgorica and Tivat airports

ready for more intensive air traffic and larger passenger numbers?

- Given the actual numbers and the traffic, which is already greater than in the same deals with public transport and drone taxi services, through the Ministry of Capital Investment. We offered Tivat Airport for testing and the possibility of building a space for vertical landing and take-off according to positions certified by the Civil Aviation Agency. At the moment, Volokopter is preparing to fly in Milan, Paris and Singapore. According to the latest information directly from Volokopter, they are currently focusing on Singapore, so we are on their map for the taxi-drone.