Students and Faculty of the Aviation Academy from Belgrade Visit “Orao”
First-year students of the Aviation Academy from Belgrade, accompanied by their teachers, recently visited the Bijeljina-based company “Orao”, whose core activity is aircraft engine overhaul. During the visit, the company’s staff introduced the guests to the history of this aviation giant, the specific processes carried out on a daily basis, and the highly skilled personnel who execute them efficiently and professionally.
Marko Mrkajić, Director of Orao a.d. Bijeljina, emphasized that cooperation with the Aviation Academy from Belgrade has been ongoing for years and that the company’s management is extremely pleased to host the students and their teachers.
“This is an exchange of knowledge in the field of aviation, and we are always open to visits that help young people connect theoretical and practical aspects of their education, broaden their experience, and choose their future careers. ‘Orao’ has a lot to showcase, as evidenced by our 80-year-long tradition, and without young generations to succeed us, this entire story would have no meaning,” Mrkajić stated.
Retired military pilot Nenad Petrović, responsible for practical training at the Aviation Academy, explained that the visitors were first-year students of this secondary education institution.
“At this stage, they are getting acquainted with institutions of this type. Previously, they visited Belgrade’s ‘Nikola Tesla’ Airport and the Aviation Institute ‘Moma Stanojlović’, and now we came to ‘Orao’. For the students, these visits are opportunities to experience the environment where they may work in the future,” Petrović said.
Jelena Antić, an English teacher at the Aviation Academy, noted that in addition to General English, she also teaches Technical English, which makes the visit to “Orao” especially significant for her.
“Everything I saw today together with the students will be very valuable for the Technical English course. It is my first time in Bijeljina, and I am extremely satisfied with the hospitality of the staff at ‘Orao’,” Antić said.
Suzana Čubrilo, a Mathematics teacher at the Aviation Academy, emphasized that this was her fourth visit to “Orao” with students and that she is pleased to see the company advancing year by year.
“I am the class teacher of the I-8 class, specializing in Aviation Traffic Technician for Safety. Visits like this are meaningful for the students, even though in their first year they cannot fully grasp the significance of what they have seen at ‘Orao’, but over time they will understand the importance of this company for aviation. I believe that the overhaul work conducted by ‘Orao’ has great prospects for the future. Despite the inevitable digitalization in all spheres, human knowledge will always remain the foundation of every process,” Čubrilo added.
Nemanja Topalović, a student of the I-8 class specializing in Aviation Traffic Technician for Safety, said he enrolled in the school because he sees himself as a future civil pilot.
“My interests are connected to aviation, and everything I have seen at ‘Orao’ related to mechanics is truly fascinating,” Topalović said.
Milica Veselinović, from the same class, stated that the visit to the “Orao” departments went excellently and that she and her classmates learned a lot of new things.
“It was interesting, and I am glad we could see at least a glimpse of what awaits us in the future,” Veselinović said.
Kristina Živanović, a first-year student in class I-7, training to become an Aviation Traffic Technician for Rescue, emphasized that she appreciated the entire company complex as well as the presentations provided to the students.
“The staff at ‘Orao’ presented the company’s history and daily operations to us in a very engaging way. They were patient in answering many of our questions. Regarding what I would like to pursue in the future, it would definitely be a career at an airport, in air traffic control, or in security,” Živanović added.
