MEP Elena Kountoura has submitted a question to the European Commission, asking if it is aware of the security issues in the air traffic management sector of Greece.
According to a statement, «The Hellenic Air Traffic Controllers Association (HACA) has stated that despite its continuous and long-standing remarks, the Greek government does not seem to be taking measures to solve the problems facing the nerve centre of the air traffic sector.
Air traffic controllers are facing a difficult context in which they have to perform their work, due to, among other things, the technologically obsolete equipment of communication systems, control towers and radars for which there are no spare parts available, the existence of incidents of even total loss of imagery and the continuing understaffing».
Ms Kountoura asked the Commission to reply:
- If it is aware of the reported problems facing the nerve centre of air traffic management in Greece?;
- If there are safety issues or non-compliance of Greece with EU air traffic rules?;
Here is the full publication from SYRIZA-PS.
Kountoura's question to the Commission on air traffic safety in Greece and compliance with European legislation
The MEP of SYRIZA-PS Elena Kountoura, coordinator of the LEFT in the TRAN Transport and Tourism Committee, has submitted a question to the Commission, asking it to answer whether it is aware of the safety issues in the air traffic management sector of Greece that air traffic controllers repeatedly complain about.
The Hellenic Air Traffic Controllers' Association, EEAKE, has stated that despite its continuous and long-standing remarks, the Greek government does not seem to be taking measures to solve the problems facing the nerve centre of the air traffic sector.
Air traffic controllers are facing a difficult context in which they have to perform their work, due, inter alia, to the technologically outdated equipment of communication systems, control towers and radars for which no spare parts are available, the existence of incidents of even total loss of imagery and the continuing understaffing.
Elena Kountoura asks the Commission to reply:
If it is aware of the reported problems facing the nerve centre of air traffic management in Greece?;
If there are safety issues or non-compliance of Greece with EU air traffic rules?;
Below is the full question submitted by Elena Kountoura to the Commission:
Question with request for a written answer to the Commission
Rule 138 of the Rules of Procedure
Elena Kountoura (The Left)
Subject: Complaints by the Air Traffic Controllers Association on safety issues and non-compliance of Greece with EU air traffic rules.
Despite the continuous and long-lasting remarks of the Greek Air Traffic Controllers Association on the problems facing the nerve centre of the air traffic sector, the Greek government does not seem to be taking any measures to solve them. Outdated technological equipment without the required degree of availability, the obsolescence of communication systems, obsolete radar systems for which there are no spare parts available, complaints about incidents of total loss of imagery, the «quagmire» in supplies, the age of control towers and understaffing form the difficult framework within which air traffic controllers are called upon to perform their nerve-racking task.1
Whereas:
-the importance of taking preventive measures to ensure the safety of air traffic.
the fact that no PBN2-type approach procedures have been published for each instrument corridor in Greece, in violation of Article 7(c) of Implementing Regulation (EU)2018/10483
-the fact that until today there is not a single ModeS radar in Greece, in violation of the implementing regulation (EU)1207/20114
-the fact that to date no DLS data link services are provided in Greece, in violation of Regulation (EC) No 29/20095
The Commission asks:
1 Are you aware of the reported problems facing the key sector of air traffic management in Greece?;
2 Are there any safety issues or non-compliance of Greece with EU air traffic rules?;
Question references:
1) See Dt. EEKE https://www.ertnews.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/%CE%94%CE%B5%CE%BB%CF%84%CE%AF%CE%BF-%CE%A4%CF%8D%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%85-EEEKE.pdf
(2) Performance-based navigation.
(3) Article 7(c) states that “for all instrument runway crossings, AUR.PBN.2005(4) of the Annex applies from 25-01-2024 for a designated SID or STAR route and from 6-06-2030 for all designated SID or STAR routes”.
(4) According to article 15 of the EC Regulation 1207/2011, as of 13/12/2013 all air navigation service providers in Europe must have implemented the requirements of this regulation for surveillance systems (Radar) and in particular the Mode S capability.
(5) According to paragraph 1 of Article 3 of C.C. 29/2009: “ATS providers shall ensure that ATS units providing air traffic services within the airspace referred to in Article 1(3) have the capability to provide and operate the data link services specified in Annex II”.”
