Female Pilot Biljana Savic Returns to Australia to Promote Air Serbia

One of Air Serbia’s first female pilots, Biljana Savic, has returned home to Australia, after many years of absence, to share her amazing journey, beginning from the early days when she was at high school in Western Sydney, and culminating in her becoming an aviation pioneer in her country of ancestral heritage.

Biljana is currently in Australia to support Air Serbia in its promotional activities at the Serbian Festival at Sydney’s Darling Harbour, as well as at the Slavic Pancake Festival at Melbourne’s iconic Royal Exhibition Building.

Biljana Savic, First Officer is one of three female pilots at Air Serbia and is currently qualified to pilot the Airbus A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircraft.

Having finally fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a pilot for a Commercial Airline pilot (with more than 12 years of flying experience under her belt) the 28-year-old was recruited by Serbia’s National Carrier in early 2014, alongside fellow female colleagues, Danijela Miletic and Ivana Milojevic.

Dane Kondić, Air Serbia's Chief Executive Officer said, "We are proud that we have three female pilots working for Air Serbia as part of our highly skilled and professional air crew. This is also important for the history of Serbian aviation and for Air Serbia. Biljana was appointed on the merit of her ability. Her journey in many ways symbolizes and represents the vision of a new Air Serbia that we have been building in the past year, and we are pleased that she is here with us visiting her other homeland."

Biljana completed her education in Sydney, Australia, earning a degree in Marketing and Business from SWIC College and a Bachelor of Aviation (Flying) degree from the University of New South Wales during 2004 and 2005.

She studied at the JAT Pilot Academy in Serbia in 2004, and between 2007-2008 she received her Aeronautical degree. She has also completed numerous other aviation training programmes in Australia, Serbia, Austria and Germany.

Biljana intends to use this opportunity to motivate young people to chase their dreams despite barriers. Biljana, along with Air Serbia’s Head of Corporate Communications, Maja Gedosev, will be meeting young members of the local Serbian Community at the Bonnyrigg Serbian Club in Sydney on Thursday, 5 February at 19:00. Biljana and Maja will also meet the Melbourne Serbian Community at the St George Serbian Orthodox Church Hall at St Albans on Friday, 6 February at 19:00.

Commenting on her career and her passion for flying, Biljana Savic said, "As a youngster, I took a flight with my mother and was invited into the cockpit. From that moment, I knew that becoming a pilot was my destiny and I started flying when I was only 16 years old. Although women have traditionally found it difficult to become pilots, times are changing. Air Serbia is breaking boundaries and I am proud to be part of this exciting change."

Biljana is a permanent resident of Australia and Serbia.