Training Flight

Mission:

The mission of the Training Flight Squadron is to conduct training, conversion training, and proficiency training of pilots for the needs of the Army and the Ministry of Defense. It also provides air support to Army units and national entities during natural disasters and catastrophes of limited scale.

Tasks:

Primary Tasks:

• Selection of new pilots;
• Basic training of airplane and helicopter pilots;
• Advanced training of helicopter pilots;
• Training of pilot instructors;
• Conversion training to other aircraft types.

Secondary Tasks:

• Light troop transport;
• Communications support;
• Light cargo transport;
• Aerial reconnaissance operations;
• Artillery fire correction;
• Supervision of camouflage of Army units;
• Humanitarian assistance delivery operations during natural disasters and catastrophes;
• VIP air transport.

Major Aleksandar Donev

Major Aleksandar Donev was born on 17 July, 1983, in Radovish, where he finished primary and secondary education. In 2002, he enrolled at the Military Academy “General Mihailo Apostolski” in Skopje and graduated in the Aviation Branch. In 2006, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Aviation Branch as the top graduate of his class. In April 2026, he completed postgraduate studies at the Military Academy “General Mihailo Apostolski” in the field of Cyber Security and Digital Forensics.

He began his military career in 2006 as a pilot trainee on the Zlin 242L aircraft and successfully graduated from pilot training in 2009. From 2011 to 2012, he successfully underwent basic helicopter flight training on the Gazelle helicopter at the Golubovci Air Base in Montenegro. From 2012 to 2013, he qualified as a Co-Pilot of the Mi-24 helicopter in the Combat Helicopter Squadron. From 2013 to 2014, he successfully completed advanced Gazelle helicopter training at the Golubovci Air Base in Montenegro. In 2019, he graduated from the Inter-European Aviation Safety Program Management Course at the Inter-European Air Force Academy in Germany. In 2020, he qualified as a Pilot-in-Command of the Mi-24 helicopter in the Combat Helicopter Squadron. Since 2023, he has been serving in the Training Flight Squadron, where he earned qualification as a Flight Instructor on the Zlin 242L aircraft. Since June 2026, he has served as Commander of the Training Flight Squadron.

Throughout his career, he has held the following positions:

• Pilot Trainee in the Training Flight, 2006-2009;
  • Pilot in the Transport Helicopter Squadron, 2009-2012;
  • Pilot in the Combat Helicopter Squadron, 2012-2017;
  • Operations, Combat Readiness, and Training Officer in the Combat Helicopter Squadron, 2017-2019;
  • Flight Safety Officer in the Combat Helicopter Squadron, 2019-2023;
  • Operations, Combat Readiness, Training, and Exercises Officer in the Training Flight Squadron, 2023-2026;
  • Commander of the Training Flight Squadron, 2026-present.

Major Aleksandar Donev is married and the father of two children.