The Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro (CAA) is currently reviewing a request from Air Montenegro (AM) to register the aircraft type “Embraer E195” (OY-GDB) in the Montenegrin registry. This aircraft is intended for addition to the airline’s fleet under a dry lease agreement, but the process is still in its early stages, making it difficult to predict the timeline and outcome.

As communicated to “Vijesti” by the CAA, this application involves not only the registration of the aircraft but also a request for an airworthiness review certificate (ARC).

If accepted by the Montenegrin CAA and registered, OY-GDB will be leased to AM for a three-year period. Under this dry lease, only the aircraft will be included, excluding the crew, maintenance, and insurance responsibilities. Consequently, if this aircraft secures Montenegrin registration, it will operate within AM’s fleet, flown by AM’s flight crew and maintained by its cabin crew, with AM technicians overseeing all maintenance tasks. The airline will also cover the aircraft’s insurance costs and pay an agreed lease fee, which is influenced by the aircraft’s utilization rate—specifically the number of flight cycles and hours achieved during its service within the AM fleet.

“The initial consideration phase of the registration request and ARC issuance was initiated by AM earlier this week. A thorough analysis and verification of documentation will ensue, along with a physical inspection of the aircraft,” stated the CAA to “Vijesti,” emphasizing that this process involves a dedicated team of experts from the Agency’s Aircraft Safety and Aircraft Operations Sector, comprising inspectors, supervisors, engineers, and pilots, in cooperation with the CAA’s legal team.

“A decision regarding the acceptance of the registration application will only be made after a comprehensive review is completed. The outcome will depend on the legitimacy of the documentation and the condition of the aircraft. The CAA adheres to multiple regulatory frameworks throughout this intricate process, including the Air Traffic Act, as well as various by-laws aligned with European regulations.” The CAA underscored that the entire procedure is conducted “in strict accordance with defined regulations, professionally, and in compliance with international standards.”

Registering an aircraft involves satisfying numerous defined criteria. These requirements include proof of ownership and cargo, verification of airworthiness, confirmation of mandatory third-party insurance payments, remittance of transfer tax on used aircraft, and evidence of deletion from the previous state registry. The Agency emphasizes its commitment to responsible and independent jurisdiction, prioritizing safety through its seasoned and skilled team of professionals.” They concluded by stating, “Upon completion of the required procedures, the Agency will announce the final decision to the public.”

This aircraft was previously scheduled to enter the fleet of the Serbian national carrier, Air Serbia, last year under a long-term dry lease, maintenance, and insurance agreement. However, for reasons unknown, the Serbian airline opted out of leasing this aircraft, resulting in its grounding at Belgrade Airport from last summer until May 12 of this year. Recently, OY-GDB was relocated to Bydgoszcz, Poland, where the company “WYZL-2,” certified for PART-145 maintenance of Embraer aircraft, is located. Due to its limited flight history over the past four years, Air Montenegro conducted an exhaustive review of the aircraft, enlisting the help of Embraer experts and a Polish company authorized for servicing the E170/190 series.

Concerns have surfaced in Montenegro regarding this aircraft, particularly allegations from Captain Nikola Pavlićević, a former pilot with Montenegro Airlines and Air Montenegro. He suggested that the aircraft supposedly lacks adequate technical documentation that should detail its maintenance and any exceptional repairs.

However, Air Montenegro countered that the aircraft in question has undergone a meticulous technical and operational evaluation, involving assessments by expert teams from Air Montenegro, the manufacturer, and EASA-certified maintenance organizations. They categorically refuted the accusations made by Pavlićević and certain Montenegrin media claiming negligence in introducing this aircraft, which allegedly jeopardizes passenger safety.

“Ensuring compliance with all relevant local and international regulations is at the forefront of this process. All pertinent parties—including manufacturers, authorized maintenance entities, and regulatory bodies—are actively engaged. Passenger, crew, and operational safety remains our top priority,” stated the national airline. The airline’s director, Vuk Stojanović, sharing details on TV Vijesti, announced that the aircraft, currently being painted in Air Montenegro colors, is expected to arrive following service in Poland on June 20. He challenged critics to provide tangible evidence for their claims regarding the aircraft’s alleged technical and documentation shortcomings and noted that, according to his information, the registration request in Serbia was never officially submitted when Air Serbia intended to lease it.

“The aircraft has undergone extensive technical and operational inspections, with evaluations conducted by the expert teams from Air Montenegro, the manufacturer, and EASA-accredited maintenance organizations. Claims of ‘invalid documentation’ and ‘compromised safety’ are baseless and appear to be an attempt to undermine a crucial professional process for our company,” stated the national airline, asserting that the leasing operator of the aircraft is part of a group on EASA’s priority carriers list.

“The company in question is led by the current president of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), an individual elected by prestigious organizations such as Lufthansa Technik, Lufthansa Systems, TAP, KLM, Airbus, ATR, among others. These credentials and international recognition serve as a vital indicator of trust—far more significant than unfounded assertions from individuals lacking professional legitimacy and with questionable ethical profiles,” remarked Air Montenegro.

Informally, the national airline is contemplating legal action against those who “unjustifiably harm Air Montenegro’s reputation and incite public distress through baseless claims concerning passenger safety” since making such allegations without credible evidence is a prosecutable offense.

Air Montenegro (AM), emerging from the defunct Montenegrin state airline Montenegroairlines (MA), boasts significant experience in operating and maintaining “Embraer E-195” aircraft. AM’s engineers and technicians have over 18 years of hands-on experience and continuous training in servicing these aircraft, leading to a deep familiarity with their functions. Furthermore, AM maintains a close relationship with Embraer, which previously recognized the Montenegrin airline as a representative entity for its commitment to outstanding maintenance and a high annual utilization rate.

Air Montenegro Requests CAA Inspection on June 20 and 21

Today, Air Montenegro submitted an official request to the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro for the “Determination of Aircraft Airworthiness,” which involves conducting a preliminary inspection of the leased aircraft.

They proposed that CAA inspectors carry out an evaluation of the Embraer E195 on June 20 and 21 at Podgorica Airport.

In the request, Air Montenegro indicated that upon CAA acceptance and registration, the aircraft would operate under the new registration mark 4O-AOE, continuing the tradition of previous “Embraer E190/195” registrations in the fleets of Montenegroairlines and Air Montenegro.

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