On 3 July 2026, a ceremony was held at the “NH Strasho Pindzur” barracks in Petrovec to mark 5 July – Helicopter Squadron Day. The event commemorated the unit’s day and recognised its significant contribution to the development and execution of the missions of the Air Force WING (AF WING) and the Army.
The ceremony was attended by the Commander of the AF WING, Colonel Dragan Pavlovski, representatives of the Army General Staff, the Operations Command, Army units, as well as representatives of M-NAV.
Addressing those present, the Deputy Commander of the Helicopter Squadron, Major Angjel Vladimirov, emphasised that 5 July symbolises the unit’s tradition, professionalism and continuity. He recalled that, on this date in 1994, the first all-Macedonian crew conducted the first Mi-8/17 helicopter flight on the territory of the country. He highlighted that, as the Army’s principal provider of airborne combat capability, the Helicopter Squadron stands ready to meet all challenges by providing aviation support to Army units, as well as assistance to the civilian population in responding to natural disasters and other emergency situations. He further stressed that every successfully completed flight and mission is the result of teamwork, discipline, expertise and the dedication of all unit members.
In his address, the Commander of the AF WING, Colonel Dragan Pavlovski, provided a historical overview of the development of the Helicopter Squadron, highlighting its continuous progress. He linked the unit’s achievements with the Army’s ongoing modernisation process, emphasizing that the implementation of the contracts for the procurement of AW149 and AW149M multirole helicopters represents a transition to a new generation of capability, which requires harmonised training programmes and an adapted organisational structure. At the end of his address, Colonel Pavlovski commended all members of the Helicopter Squadron for the successful completion of their flying tasks.
As part of the ceremony, outstanding members of the unit received incentives for their achievements, professionalism and dedication in the performance of their duties.
