„THE MACHINE DOES NOT ASK IF YOU ARE A MAN OR A WOMAN“: Jelena is the first member of the Serbian Armed Forces to reach the sky through a civilian faculty!

As a child, she would look up as soon as she heard the sound of a helicopter, following it with her gaze for as long as it could be discerned in the distance. Today, remembering that period, twenty-eight-year-old Second Lieutenant Jelena Stević sits in the cockpit of a military helicopter and does the job she dreamed of.

She is a graduate of the Military-Professional Training for Reserve Officers of the Aviation branch, having successfully mastered the selection and flight training in the 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron and received her “pilot wings,” making her the first woman to do so under the model that the Serbian Armed Forces opened for civilians.

We meet her at the “Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlović” Military Airfield in Batajnica. A helicopter is just taking off from the runway; another enters its path from our point of view. Her colleagues are in the air, and she occasionally glances up at the sky.

It is said: If you know it for a five on the ground, you will know it for a three up there

-The training is complex and challenging for every candidate who wants to do this job, regardless of gender, because it requires a lot of knowledge, discipline, and skills – Second Lieutenant Jelena tells us. – Every flight demands great responsibility, good preparation, and concentration, as well as the ability to assess the situation and make decisions at the right moment. And as for being a woman, that does not represent an obstacle to me, nor do I perceive it that way; on the contrary, it is additional motivation for me. The machine does not recognize whether a man or a woman is operating it.

A helicopter flies over us again. She looks at it briefly, then continues:

-The new training model differs from others in that candidates who have graduated from civilian faculties and have a minimum of 240 ECTS credits can now apply. We go through the same selection as candidates from the Military Academy.

Jelena graduated in biology from the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics.

-When I finished my master’s studies, a competition appeared and I applied. After many years, the opportunity arose to do what I had always wanted.

She does not regret that she will not be working in the field she studied.

-If I hadn’t finished faculty, I wouldn’t be able to be here. Everything has its place in life – she says.

This young lady also tells us how she reached her “pilot wings.”

In the air, we do not rely on emotions, but on procedures

-I was accepted at age 26, I caught the last train – Jelena says jokingly. – After applying, we were sent for a medical-psychological assessment. Those of us who passed went for two weeks of training in the 63rd Parachute Brigade in Niš. After that training, we had two parachute jumps, and then we returned here and selective flying began. I had ten flight hours on the “Utva 75” trainer aircraft. And then we passed another selection after which we went to the Military Academy. During the first three months, we had basic military training, while in the next three we mastered flying in the squadron. That’s when I received my first officer rank – second lieutenant – and returned to the unit where I continued my training.

We look at the Airbus H145 helicopter. Jelena has yet to master how to operate it. Currently, she flies the “Gazelle” helicopter.

-In this business, we must constantly prove our knowledge and abilities, to be better from flight to flight. My goal was to create security in every flight. Preparation is the most important, because in the air there is no time for thinking. It is said: if you know it for a five on the ground, you will know it for a three up there. We must always be a step ahead of the aircraft, to know in advance what follows. The pilot’s job requires a lot of sacrifice; great responsibility, preparation, high concentration, risk assessment, and situation assessment are needed—these are things that must characterize every pilot, as well as calmness in stressful situations and, most importantly, teamwork and spirit.

Jelena prepares before every flight.

-The way we prepare on the ground is how we will perform in the air. We take off only when we receive data on weather conditions. The story doesn’t end when we land on the ground. Then we all analyze the flights that took place that day together, exchange experiences and impressions, what we could have done better, and based on that, we gain experience for the next flight.

Jelena talks about how she felt when she began to fly alone.

-Fear has no place in this job, nor does panic. In the beginning, I felt awe more than fear. Over time, I learned to overcome that through knowledge and the decisions I make during the flight. When a problem arises, it is solved step by step. We do not rely on emotions, but on procedures. At no point did I think I wouldn’t succeed; I am focused on progress and learning. During training, we learned to make quick and correct decisions under pressure.

She says her colleagues helped her the most.

An adventurous spirit and love for the fatherland led me into this job

-Teamwork is crucial in this job. Pilots, air traffic controllers, and technicians must exchange precise information. Even the slightest misunderstanding can lead to serious consequences.

For Jelena, the most beautiful moment is when she separates from the ground.

-Then everything looks small, there are no crowds, no noise. The horizon is endless and a sense of freedom arises. I have flown over Srem, Banat, and Bačka. I was led into this job by an adventurous spirit and love for the fatherland. I recommend it to all young people who love their country and dream of flying. This job combines discipline, courage, and responsibility.