With another announcement, the Union of Electronic Air Traffic Safety Engineers of the Civil Aviation Service (ENIMAEK/YPA) warns about the safety of flights.
As reported by the Union, the radars that are operating no longer have the necessary spare parts, while the same applies to dozens of communication transmitters and receivers, which are maintained by the staff with their own money, with the human factor being the one that keeps the Service “alive and fighting”.
In detail, the announcement of ENIMAEK/YPA:
The Union of Air Traffic Safety Electronic Engineers of the Civil Aviation Service (ENIMAEK/YPA), showing in practice its respect for the victims of Tempe and their families, did not want to take a position directly on the way in which the possibility of our members’ participation in the ADEDY 24-hour strike of February 28, 2024.
The aim of our participation in it was to honor the memory of the victims and to remind the state of its obligations for transport safety. Of course, the state decided that it had to take us to court for this.
Last week belonged to the victims, their families and the commemorations and we didn’t want to spoil this tragic event. We did the same last year after Tempi. With a sense of respect, responsibility but also anxiety for the aviation industry, we issued exactly one year ago (8/3/2023), a press release with which we gleaned a series of serious problems that we face in the execution of our work. Unfortunately, we are forced to come back as little progress has been made towards resolving them.
We also want to contribute, in our turn, to the debate that has opened up about aviation security. As Air Traffic Safety Electronic Engineers (IMAEK/ATSEP), as professionals, but also as the material authorities in everything that has to do with air navigation systems, we still – despite the very important problems – say that the CAA has present the required procedures and certified personnel in order to mitigate risks and maintain acceptable levels of safety. What is at stake in case of a very significant damage is to close an airport or part of the Greek FIR with a direct impact on delays, the economy and the international image of the country.
Therefore, despite the fact that the Administration of the CAA and the Ministry did not take care to provide an immediate solution for the Radars that are out of order, a matter which we highlighted in last year’s press release, as IMAEK/ATSEP in the context of cooperation with neighboring countries, we gave the technical solution by integrating the image from the Cyprus Radar in Larnaca into the existing air traffic management system (and in a few days we will also integrate the Paphos Radar).
At the same time, procedures are underway to include Radar images from other neighboring states (Egypt, Italy). But until when, these auxiliary solutions will be used as the main ones? It is possible for other expenses of questionable necessity, to find the resources immediately and to make the procurement procedures abbreviated, while in such critical cases of replacing aeronautical systemsdue to significant damage, not to apply its procedure
urgent?
Regarding the ongoing procurements concerning the systems of the Central Aeronautical Building (KEPATHM) in Elliniko there is no progress. Another summer season will be served with the analog communications system that we maintain and operate for over 25 years.
Of course, the discussion about the given necessity of modernizing air navigation systems must always be accompanied by the fundamental principle of requiring the preparation of a feasibility study, operational requirements, technical specifications with legal and transparent procedures. This principle has been violated in recent years by the Ministry, with a recent example being the Ministry’s unilateral decision to install remote digital control towers (Digital/Remote Towers), for which CAA officials have expressed concern and reservations to the Ministry in writing and international
federations of Air Traffic Controllers and Electronics ATSEP (IFATCA, ATCEUC and IFATSEA).
As IMAEK/ATSEP, we do not “demonize” new technologies, which are, after all, the core of our profession. However, we are unable to explain why the specific project was based on a rough study, for which the expertise of HMAEK/ATSEP was not properly requested and we never refused it. Also questionable is the fact that recently the exclusive competence of the CAA as contracting authority for procurement of air navigation systems was assigned to the Ministry’s Airport Infrastructure Directorate, which is not certified for such matters. After all, is the whole discussion about the installation of Digital/Remote Towers being done to cover the failure of the concessionaire of the 14 concessioned airports to meet the obligations deriving from the concession contract with the result that the Greek taxpayer bears the cost again?
For the problems in spare parts availability, an issue that also plagues other transport operators, what can we say? As many as Radar operate, they no longer have the necessary spare parts and may at any time, one of them close due to damage of its aging ranks. The same applies to dozens of communication transmitters and receivers, which we keep standing in many cases with our own money.
It follows that the human factor is he who it holds until today the Service alive and fighting. A Service that is discredited daily by a lack of Management, vision, organization chart, recruitment, funding and systems modernization. The experienced, specialized and certified personnel of the CAA are the ones who improve the performance of the country every year, while maintaining safety in air transport.
For that staff, the number of which has reached to historic lows, last year we fought and secured the approval of 50 IMAEK/ATSEP recruitments and the reinstatement of the recruitment age limit to 35 years so that the staffing of our sector can finally unfreeze. But only as a punishment, for the struggle we gave, we can take the fact that out of the 50 approved PE/TE Electronics (ATSEP) positions, 15 PE positions are not
they joined the 1GB/2023 tender with cheap excuses. Out of the remaining 35, only 7 are expected to be covered based on the ASEP provisional results. All this when, in 2023 alone, 16 Electronics retired, this year the retirement of at least another 18 Electronics is expected. In addition, the Administration of the CAA refuses to place 46 employees who have been transferred to our branch from
in 2019 and still provide another project.
We were surprised to hear last week from the Minister, during the hearing of the new CAA Governor, in the Committee on Institutions and Transparency, that he referred to the ASEP competition saying: “Let’s sit down and see if all the positions will be filled…”. Really, who is responsible for choosing the particular tender process that we said from the beginning would not produce the expected results? In other words, should the positions in the CAA be filled by the written competition of the ASEP, which was announced prior to their approval?
We have submitted a relevant letter last August to both the Minister and the President of ASEP, protesting the exclusion of the 15 PE Electronics positions from the specific procedure, as well as the fact that for the remaining 35 positions of Electronics (ATSEP) Technology Education there were only 52 successful candidates from the written competition, pointing out that we will be driven to a wreck.
A representative sample in the theater of the absurd that we have been watching develop in the field of air navigation in recent years, is today’s high-level meeting held on air navigation systems between the Ministry, EASA, APA and CAA. Really, isn’t it at least unethical the fact that EASA was represented by the previously chosen for the post of CAA Commander, Mr. Tziola, who “backfired”, belittling the institutions as if he was interviewing a private company? At the same time that the CAA was represented by the outgoing Administration instead of the new Governor Mr. Sounatsos? Why is it so important to hold this particular meeting before the appointment of the new Governor? Could it be that EASA was finally called in order to bless the Remote Towers and absolve the Ministry of its responsibilities?
Ultimately, who will manage and make decisions for the Civil Aviation Service? Is the appointment of the new Administration done for the sake of the audience? Will it be completed or are expedients better served with an essentially headless CAA?
The Union of Air Traffic Safety Electronic Engineers of the CAA, maintaining a responsible attitude, is always ready to sit at the dialogue table despite the constant refusal of the leadership of the Ministry to give concrete answers to the key questions.
But we declare at the same time and in all tones, that the “legalization” of arbitrary practices by “delegitimizing” the Service and its staff, WILL NOT FIND US AS ALLIES!
#warning #air #traffic #Radars #work #spare #parts
