ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Greece’s air traffic controllers’ union is calling for an urgent upgrade of the country’s air traffic radar system and for more staff to be hired to handle increasing number of tourist arrivals.
The country’s air traffic control system was operating with diminishing staff and a main radar system dating from 1999 that has only been upgraded once, in 2008, union head Spyros Rolakis said Wednesday.
Rolakis insisted there was no compromise to flight safety, but said that in order for fewer staff to safely handle more flights with aging technology, flights would likely face delays.
“Imagine if you had today the cellphone and laptop you bought 16 years ago,” Rolakis said during a rare union news conference. “How would you function? With many shortcomings and restrictions, and you wouldn’t be able to do your job exactly as you’d like.”
Buying a new radar system and hiring more staff wouldn’t burden Greece’s troubled budget, he explained, because the country should be using funds derived from airline fees paid to countries when using their airspace – even when the planes don’t land in Greece. Under European regulations, Rolakis said, these fees are earmarked for air traffic-related investment – equipment, airspace planning, training and staff salaries.