ARMAMENTS

The operational activities of the border surveillance of the Tethered aerostat, stationed at the Alexandroupolis International Airport “Demokritos” (KAALD), are ongoing with great success, the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) announced.

According to the HCAA, the aerostat was stationed at the Alexandroupolis International Airport “Demokritos” at the beginning of August and is an innovative operation of the European Organisation FRONTEX in collaboration with the Hellenic Coast Guard aiming at the protection of external borders and the sea in particular. 

The planning of the installation of the aerostat was done with the support of the commander of the HCAA, Georgios Dritsakos, following many months of close cooperation between personnel of the organization FRONTEX and of KAALD, while a relevant aeronautical advertisement of international distribution (NOTAM) was issued for this reason.

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The aerostat has a thermal and conventional long-range camera, transponder, security lighting, and uses flying helium. It is stationed in a protected area next to the main runway of the airport. 

For the practical needs of the operation, a special operational center has been established in KAALD, staffed by personnel of the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Hellenic Police, and the operators of the French company that runs the project.

It is the first time at the European level that a tethered aerostat has been installed within the boundaries of an International Airport, which has a high daily military and civilian air traffic load.

The results of the very successful operational activity so far, both in terms of flight safety and surveillance efficiency, will be presented in detail by FRONTEX in a special event, which will take place at KAALD on October 13, 2021, with the participation of a large number of the Member States of the European Union.

Source: AMNA

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