Effective 26 December 2024, the following AIP change marks a significant milestone for General Aviation in Greece, thanks to the constant efforts of Egnatia Aviation.

The statement ”VFR flights at night shall not be operated within ATHINAI FIR” changes to ”may be operated within ATHINAI FIR under permission that may be granted to categories including TRAINING”.

We are still far from achieving general permission for night flights, as seen in all other European countries, but this is a significant step forward. Additionally, there are yet a few airports in Greece that operate at night. We hope this is the beginning.

AIRAC AMDT 11/24 ENR 1.2-4 AIP 26 DEC 2024 GREECE

1.2.4.7 VFR FLIGHTS AT NIGHT

1.2.4.7.1 VFR flights at night (see ENR 1.1.3.1) may be operated within ATHINAI FIR under permission that may be granted to the following categories, provided all requirements set out in ENR 1.2.4.7.1.1 are met, unless any of them is not applicable:

a) State aircraft, search and rescue operations, hospital and medevac flights, firefighting, or flights in direct connection with the above flights (i.e. return flights from operation), or

b) Training flights/Any other flight with special permission granted by the HCAA (see GEN 1.1) on regulatory level and under any specific requirements set by HASP (see GEN 1.1) on operational level.

1.2.4.7.1.1 unit (see ENR 1.2.11) under the following conditions:

In the circumstances detailed in ENR 1.2.4.7.1 (a) and (b), VFR flights at night are permitted by the appropriate ATS

a) submission of flight plan (see ENR 1.10.2.1.1);

b) available;

c) flights shall establish and maintain two-way radio communication on the appropriate ATS communication channel, when the VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima as specified in Table of VMC minima shall apply except that:

i) the ceiling shall not be less than 450 m (1500FT);

ii) the reduced flight visibility provisions specified in table of VMC minima, (a) and (b) shall not apply;

iii) in airspace classes D, E and G, at and below 3000FT (900m) AMSL or 1000FT (300m) above terrain, whichever is the higher, the pilot shall maintain continuous sight of the surface; and

iv) in addition to the above provisions, over high terrain or in mountainous areas the pilot shall maintain continuous sight of the surface.

d) except when necessary for take-off or landing, or except when specifically authorised by the HCAA (see GEN 1.1), a VFR flight at night shall be flown along published VFR routes and altitudes that have been established in accordance with the requirements of (i) and (ii) below.

When a flight is conducted:

– Outside published VFR routes and altitudes or

– Within TMAs/MTMAs where VFR routes and altitudes have not been established or

– Outside TMAs/MTMAs the flight shall be flown:

i) over high terrain or in mountainous areas, at a level which is at least 2000FT (600m) above the highest obstacle located within 8 km of the estimated position of the aircraft;

ii) elsewhere than as specified in i), at a level which is at least 1000FT (300m) above the highest obstacle located within 8 km of the estimated position of the aircraft; and

e) VFR flights at night shall operate the SSR transponder on Mode A Code 7000 and Mode C.

1.2.4.7.2 VFR flights at night are conducted according to the rules applicable in each case, whether operating in controlled or uncontrolled airspace, and subject to the restrictions and specific requirements for each class of airspace (see ENR 1.2.4.1, ENR 1.2.4.2, ENR 1.2.4.3, ENR 1.2.4.4 & ENR 1.2.4.5)

1.2.4.7.3 The departure and arrival of VFR flights at night occur at aerodromes which, according to the design and operation technical rules governing infrastructure, whether they are of public or restricted use and whether they are controlled or uncontrolled (including aerodromes where no air traffic services are available), fulfill the requirements for this type of operation as ascertained by means of the certification, licensing or any other decision regarding compliance with those rules made by the National Competent Authority.

1.2.4.7.4 When no meteorological or air traffic services are available at the departure and/ or destination aerodrome, the pilot shall assess that the visibility conditions for take-off and/ or landing are met, without assistance.

1.2.4.7.5 Special VFR flights at night within a control zone are not permitted.

1.2.4.7.6 Except for flights prescribed in ENR 1.2.4.7.1 (a) and (b), change from IFR to night VFR is not permitted.

1.2.4.7.7 Night VFR to IFR is permitted, provided that the pilot holds an IFR rating and the aircraft is adequately equipped.

Note 1: Mountainous area means an area of changing terrain profile where the changes of terrain elevation exceed 3000FT (900m) within a distance of 10 NM (18,5 km).

Note 2: VFR flights at night shall be conducted in cruising levels as prescribed in ENR 1.2.12 and the lowest usable flight level shall be 500FT above the published IFR cruising levels (see ENR 3.1 and ENR 3.2), unless otherwise indicated in ATC clearances.

Note 3: The mobile phone number of the pilot-in-command shall be inserted in the space reserved for additional requirements of ICAO FPL form.