New Helicopter Engine Overhaul Facility Worth KM 3 Million Demonstrates That the Recapitalisation Was the Right Decision
The opening of a new facility at Bijeljina-based “ORAO” for the overhaul of helicopter engines, representing an investment of KM 3 million, demonstrates that the recent recapitalisation of our company was the right decision. I would like to thank the President of the Government of Republika Srpska, Savo Minić, and representatives of the relevant ministry for their efforts to date in supporting the realisation of the first investment by our strategic partner, Glotec, said Marko Mrkajić, General Manager of “ORAO”.
Mrkajić emphasised that the opening of the new facility represents an opportunity for “ORAO” to enter new markets, as well as to expand into the civil aviation sector.
“All employees of ‘ORAO’ have supported this initiative, and today, together with Prime Minister Minić, we also addressed several other important issues – including the establishment of an aviation secondary school in Bijeljina, which would help us secure qualified personnel for the coming period and fill the new positions that are clearly emerging within our company,” Mrkajić stressed.
The President of the Government of Republika Srpska, Savo Minić, said that “ORAO” holds particular importance for Republika Srpska because it operates in a highly specialised area of the defence industry that is relatively rare in the Balkans.
“What ‘ORAO’ is doing is an exceptionally technologically advanced activity, and the scope of its operations is continuously expanding. During my discussions with the company’s management, I identified two areas in which I will work to ensure that the Government of Republika Srpska provides support in the coming period. These include the establishment of an aviation secondary school, for which we could provide teaching staff from Serbia, as well as increasing employees’ salaries, an area in which the Government will become involved through the establishment of dedicated funds. I congratulate ‘ORAO’ on the opening of the new facility, and I am pleased that contracts for helicopter engine overhaul are expected to be signed within the next two months,” Minić said.
Stefan Vukićević, Director of “ORAO’s” partner company Glotec, explained that the new facility will initially be used for the overhaul of Rolls-Royce M250 engines, while the company also plans to develop overhaul capabilities for Pratt & Whitney PT6 engines.
“We have secured the technical documentation, equipment and specialised tooling, as well as the mandatory replacement kits required to commence the overhaul process. We expect to complete the national certification process within the next two months, and I am pleased to say that we are in the final stages of negotiations with a major customer who is expected to become our first client. We are confident that we will begin overhauling the M250 engine as early as December or January. Although we initially committed to completing the entire investment within three years, we are now likely to complete it within approximately one and a half years,” Vukićević said.
Prior to the official opening of the new facility, the management of “ORAO”, President of the Government of Republika Srpska Savo Minić, representatives of the relevant ministry and Glotec Director Stefan Vukićević held a meeting. They subsequently visited the memorial room and laid wreaths at the monument dedicated to “ORAO” employees who lost their lives during the Defence-Patriotic War.
The delegation also visited the test station within “ORAO”, where General Manager Marko Mrkajić presented President of the Government of Republika Srpska Savo Minić with a Serbian officers’ sabre as a symbol of honour and dignity.
