Lost father, brother in war, now first Kosovo Army pilot

On December 13th of this year, the first Kosovo pilot, Africa Zabel, graduated.

In an interview for German media “Nex24”, he relates his professional preparation, family and the absence of father and brother who lost their lives in the last war in Kosovo, as well as many other things.

The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, on December 14th of this year, has voted laws on the formation of the Kosovo Army, which will bear the name of the Kosovo Armed Forces, broadcast Indexline.

The first pilot of these forces had only eight years in which his father and brother were sacrificed for the freedom of the Republic of Kosovo.

Subteger Zabel; You're the first pilot of FAK, with this you've become part of history, what does that mean to you?

Subteger Zabel: First of all, I'm so lucky I've had the chance to go to Helicopter Pilot School. It's an opportunity that doesn't come to anyone and that requires great devotion. I'm very proud to be the first Kosovo Security Force pilot. And my graduation the day before the formation of the Kosovo Army makes me feel very good. I've had the full commitment in this direction, and I've finally achieved my goal, and this achievement certainly means a lot to me.

Where have you completed your aviation studies and how long has it lasted?

Subteger Zabel: I completed my aviation studies in the Republic of Turkey, either at the Earth Aviation Military School for Helicopter. I started on 13,11,2017 in Turkey's capital, Ankara, and completed them on the date of 13,12.2018 in the town of Isparta. It has been planned for the course to take 11 months, but because the school has changed the country from Ankara to Isparta, and because of meteorological and technical conditions it has lasted to 13 months.

Were you alone there, or did you travel as a group?

Subteger Zabel: We started school with two KSF members. Unfortunately, my healthcare colleague has failed to complete his schooling.

What other areas besides being a helicopter pilot, you have finished for the planned Kosovo Army and where?

Subteger Zabel: I finished the Earth Military Academy in Ankara, which lasted five years; one year I learned language, and four years I studied at the General Military Academy.

During this time period, we have been able to receive training in various fields. In the last year of the Academy, I took the Basic Course for Comando, which took nine weeks, focused on numerous physical and theoretical activities. I completed the Military Academy in 30.08.2018.

Have you been part of the solemn ceremony of the Kosovo Security Forces transition to the Kosovo Armed Forces?

Subteger Zabel: No, because I graduated on December 13, 2018, while the ceremony was held on December 14, 2018, and I had no theoretical opportunity, to return to Kosovo on December 14th. But I passed the whole ceremony through television, and it was a very special and exciting feeling.

From whom did you have support on your way as the first Kosovo pilot?

Subteger Zabel: I had the greatest support of my family. After the war ended in Kosovo, we were left without my father and older brother, and all of us were children, the oldest of us was our sister, a 12-year-old, economic conditions have not been good for us, a help we have had from the large family, who were in the diaspora, and from the son of uncle, who is now part of the Kosovo Police, Avni Zabel, who has helped us in our schooling, and they have never stopped supporting us, but this is their best, and the first pilot of the Kosovo Army.

I thank the Kosovo Security Force that is now the Kosovo Army, which has enabled me to complete the Helicopter Land Aviation School successfully.

What were the reactions of your family when you showed that you intended to become a pilot?

Subteger Zabel: Like any child who has a childhood dream about what's going to happen in the future, I had my dream of being part of a country service first. My desire or my desire to be a pilot has given birth to me during the time of the Military Academy, since we have also had conferences on various military directions, and one of these has been for the helicopter pilot. And from that moment on, I've become interested and read more about this direction. The news of my goal to be a pilot has been well received, even though it was a difficult and more challenging journey. My dream finally came true. Now I'm a helicopter pilot at KSF.

During the Kosovo war you have lost your father and brother, yet you have not surrendered and continued your schooling. What is your message for Kosovo youth?

Subteger Zabel: First, I am proud to be a child and a brother of martyrs; that for the freedom of Kosovo they gave their lives even more dearly. How many times have I had difficulties or obstacles for anything I have always remembered my father, brother and all the young martyrs for the freedom of Kosovo, and every time I felt myself more powerful and proud, I never gave up, but I have moved on to where I am today. For the youth of Kosovo, I have a message, whatever difficulties you face, don't lose confidence, always be aware of what you are doing and what you are doing, and any goal you have, think about what the outcome will be, and every time you will be more successful. Let Kosovo's youth continue schooling, aiming to be participants in Kosovo's important decisions in the future, professionally established in different professions, and certainly very welcome to be part of the Kosovo Army.

Have you flown with Helicopter over Kosovo's sky?

Subteger Zabel: No, I haven't yet flown, but I look forward to the day to begin flying over Kosovo and serve my country as a pilot. The first flight I wanted to make in my home sky.

What do you feel like when you're in heaven?

Subteger Zabel: It's a very good feeling with full emotion! All the natural beauty or human-powered, which we see from the earth, you see from the sky, is like being in the wonder world, because the flights made by the Helicopter don't get very high, so even natural beauty is observed in detail, that a man who is not a pilot can only imagine.

The best feeling and plenty of adrenaline is when you make tactical movements at a small altitude from the earth. All these feelings are conveyed to a huge responsibility, for the helicopter personnel, with the fate of their lives in the hands of the pilot, so we're also prepared to have an emergency in any case that may happen during the flight a place in our mind in case an emergency landing occurs and it's very difficult.

The Kosovo government stresses that the planned military is a multiethnic force, do you have close friends who are not Albanians and how are the reports between you?

Subteger Zabel: I've had the opportunity to have colleagues of minority members who are part of the army, reports between us have been very good both professionally and dailyly, familiar with the military environment, never feel like they're being violated by someone or don't think they're being wronged, just because they're not Albanian, all of them are ready for every task you're given and do the job as required. Then even the stars on the Kosovo flag present numerous ethnicities living in Kosovo. /Periscopi