91996E0641

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0641/96 by Pavlos Sarlis (PPE) to the Commission (15 March 1996)

Subject: Delay in introducing a new Greek air-traffic control system and potential problems for tourists

In December 1995, the Greek Civil Aviation Authority (YPA) officially took delivery from the manufacturers of a complete state-of-the-art air-traffic control system for Greek airspace which also includes equipment for total modernization of the control centre for the approach to Athens (KEPATH).

Unfortunately, the system has not yet been brought into operation despite the fact the the YPA has trained the Greek air-traffic controllers to use the new system.

Unless the new system, which has been jointly funded through a considerable input of Community resources, is not up and running in the immediate months to come, the millions of European tourists intending to visit Greece in the summer of 1996 will suffer the agonies of delays and cancellation of flights caused by the old technology.

Recently, both the Commission and the Council have looked several times into the problems suffered by European tourists as a result of delays and cancellations of flights during the summer months and have occasionally taken certain measures.

Is the Commission aware of this problem, which some sources attribute to disputes between the YPA management and the air-traffic controllers, and what does it intend to do to bring the new air-traffic control system into immediate operation in Greece for the good of European tourists?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (30 April 1996)

It is evident that the transition towards an automated system is not an easy exercise anywhere. It is technically complex, requires careful planning and takes time. The Commission has, of course, been following developments in Greece.

According to the Commission's information, the provisional acceptance of the new system will be completed in the next few months and will be followed by some months of pre-operational validation. Certain elements of the system are already in operation and the Commission understands that the entire system will be ready for operational use by the beginning of next year, when the transition from the old to the new system can begin.