Serbia to get permit to operate direct flights to USA - US aviation inspectors in Belgrade as of March 24

American aviation inspectors will visit Belgrade on March 24 to determine if Serbia meets requirements to obtain the Category 1 status from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), that is, a permit to operate direct flights to the USA, the Serbian Transportation Ministry told Tanjug news agency on Friday (21 March 2014).

Milutin Popovic, the transportation minister's assistant for air transportation, says that Serbia is ready to regain the Category 1 status, adding that the country can get it shortly after the check if FAA inspectors are satisfied.

According to Popovic, U.S. aviation inspectors will visit the Civil Aviation Directorate and Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade and have talks with the representatives of the Transportation Ministry during their seven-day stay in Serbia.

- They will check if our regulations are aligned with European and American ones, and one of the key issues is air transportation safety - he explains.

As he adds, getting the Category 1 status from the FAA will make it possible for Serbia to allow the flag carrier and foreign airlines to operate direct flights from Belgrade to the USA and Canada.

- We expect a positive outcome of this check - Popovic notes.

Serbian companies were deprived of the right to operate direct flights to the USA in 2004 over some deficiencies in regulations and in the organization of aviation authorities and non-alignment of Serbian aviation standards and procedures with those of the USA.