President Milanović Meets with Leadership of the Unmanned Systems in Crisis Situations Association and Praises Their Work
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović met today with the leadership of the Unmanned Systems in Crisis Situations Association (Bespilotni sustavi u kriznim situacijama – BSKS). BSKS is a professional, voluntary, and non-profit organization that brings together experts and operators involved in the use of unmanned systems across Croatia for purposes such as protecting and rescuing people, flood and fire defense, and responding to other crisis situations that pose a threat to the civilian population.
The Association’s President, Željko Riha, Vice President Renato Ostojić, and Board Member Filip Klinac briefed President Milanović on the Association’s work since its founding in 2021, as well as its future plans and proposals for expanding cooperation in the field of civil protection and security in Croatia. “The civil protection system requires continuous improvement and the development of new knowledge, which in turn introduces new risks. Unmanned systems, as a specialized field, require clear rules, organization, and preparation to ensure their effective and safe use in crisis situations, for protection, rescue, and firefighting,” Riha stated during the meeting.
Discussing BSKS’s activities, the leadership highlighted that the Association provides expert guidance on the effective use of unmanned systems in crisis situations; promotes safety standards and best practices for drone operations; conducts training, exercises, and readiness assessments for its members; conducts operations when needed, in cooperation with other civil protection stakeholders across Croatia; and fosters international collaboration in the field of unmanned systems. The Association has more than 100 members, including 80 trained “remote pilots,” the professional term for individuals who operate drones.
President Milanović expressed strong support for the mission and activities of the Unmanned Systems in Crisis Situations Association, calling their initiative commendable and encouraging them to continue their work for the benefit of the entire community.
During their conversation, the representatives also raised concerns about the ease with which drones can now be purchased, allowing many to operate them without proper licenses, which can lead to accidents. To address this issue, they launched a media campaign in partnership with the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency, titled “When There’s a Fire – the Drone is on the Ground,” aimed at raising awareness about flight safety during the firefighting season.
Among their notable actions, the Association highlighted its participation in the search for a missing aircraft in Lika-Senj County, as well as capturing footage of the damage in the Vjesnik skyscraper following a recent fire.
President Milanović was accompanied by the Adviser to the President of the Republic for National Security Dragan Lozančić and the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas