The airport guards are turning against the Mitsotakis government with a statement, sounding the alarm for safety in the aviation sector, after the railway accident in Tempe. They also blame the resigned Transport Minister Kostas Ach. Karamanlis, - with whom, as they stress, they have not met in the last 4 years - while they also announce the actions they have taken towards the State.
The Panhellenic Association of Airport Workers notes that «Unfortunately, the image of devaluation and poor implementation of security policies in the railway is not the only one. The reality is that for years a similar parallel course has been followed in the aviation sector», the airport workers say and note that «the former Minister Mr. Karamanlis abolished all the Aviation Authorities at all Greek airports, the state bodies that would control the implementation of security rules at airports and national and European aviation legislation».
As they explain, after the privatization of the country's largest airports, «the Greek state decided that it does not really need any kind of in situ supervision for the many security issues that arise at all airports. The former minister Mr Karamanlis abolished all the aviation authorities at all Greek airports, i.e. the organs of the state that would have controlled the application of safety rules at airports and of national and European aviation legislation. The absence of a state control mechanism at airports is contrary to the safety of the citizen, aviation and the public interest in general and certainly does not serve the passengers and workers, nor the good of our country. However, this was done despite the strong opposition of the entire opposition and our association and in such an absolute and undocumented way that it makes one wonder whose interests are being served.
Thus, according to the Panhellenic Airport Workers« Association, the supervision of security and legality at airports "went from being real and on the ground to being a remote omen and was assigned to an office in Athens called the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Since then, many incidents have occurred at airports, which have been highlighted. No one can claim not to know,» he says.
The association stresses that it «did everything it could to inform and stop the downward slide of the citizen's security and the dangerous and destructive policy of Minister Karamanlis»:
«1. Appeal to the Council of State (21/10/2022)
2. at least 15 Letters-Documents-Studies sent to the Ministry, the CAA management, all Members of Parliament, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the current Minister of Transport in his capacity as Minister of State.
3. More than 50 Press Releases - Articles - Press articles
4. Meetings have been held to inform all the parties in Parliament, the result of which is 18 Questions submitted to the Greek Parliament by all the opposition parties (SYRIZA, PASOK, KKE, ELLINIKI LYSI, MERA25). Many answers were not given and those that were given, were mainly in the spirit of a non-existent, remote supervision of airports of the type «...we asked the private manager of the airport and he reported that the procedures were followed but...». As if the private operator would ever admit his responsibilities... Supervision, not jokes...
5. Two Interventions on Legislation in Parliament
6. Interviews with TV and Radio Stations»
However, as they point out, «What has not happened in the last 4 years is a meeting with Minister Karamanlis. He has never agreed to discuss, even though we are the specialised staff for airport and flight security. Was he not concerned at all about airport security issues? It was all ready and planned and so well done that it could not be improved. The private citizen must act unchecked, with no obligations. Is this tactic reminiscent of anything?» they note.
«So apart from being devastated, we are also outraged by what is being said and written. We see similarities on all levels. It has become clear how dangerous things can become if everything is left to chance or still?» they emphasize meaningfully.
As they explain, «The Karamanlis model of a very limited «Athenocentric structure» of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), instead of a decentralized model of a real decentralized control system, is a proven failure. In most EU countries, which, it should be noted, do not have the island character of Greece, the necessary regional supervisory units have been established within the airports. Do we know something they don't?» the airport officials ask.
«It is of urgent importance that the work of the CAA be made substantial by extending its oversight within the airports and not remotely. The State Aviation Authorities of the airports are an essential part of it, without this there is no real oversight. If we finally want to talk seriously about transport security policy, the structure of the CAA must be revised immediately. Reality cannot wait.
Loose remote and understaffed supervision is not a responsible way of thinking and will in no way benefit the state-citizens-companies. If we have security incidents at airports, the damage will be incalculable, not only to our country's aviation industry but also to our already fragile economy, and it will not be easily amortized. All the more so if the incidents are fatal...» they conclude.
