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On January 28, 2025, the Safety and Incident Management Department of HCAA, led by Mr. Kasimatis, organized a highly successful in-person meeting (with parallel online participation) on the topic of VFR flights within the Greek TMA airspaces, specifically within Athinai TMA. The meeting was attended by representatives from the HANSP , HCAA, and educational organizations. HCAA Administrator, Mr. Tsitouras, supported this initiative by delivering an opening address.<\/p>\n
This event was a follow-up to a previous online meeting held in December between the Safety Management Department and ATOs, where flight training organizations raised safety issues related to VFR flights and their operational environment<\/strong>. The discussions highlighted the need for a dedicated session focused entirely on VFR operations.<\/p>\n This initiative is possibly the first time that such an in-depth discussion on VFR flights has taken place with a focus on aviation safety. By identifying these challenges as safety issues, all involved stakeholders are called upon to engage in dialogue with users and work towards agreed-upon solutions and actions.<\/p>\n Among the various issues addressed, the most notable were:<\/p>\n HCAA receives a very small number of reports from general aviation and training organizations. Through initiatives like this, it aims to encourage more reporting and gain a better understanding of the issues faced by users.<\/p>\n At the same time, HANSP, as the provider of air traffic control services, operates under conditions of chronic understaffing and is seeking new solutions to long-standing challenges in airspace management. This presents a unique opportunity to develop solutions that benefit both authorities and users alike.<\/p>\n During the meeting, several proposals were presented, using examples from international airports with higher volumes of VFR flights. The main focus of the discussion was on airspace classification as a tool<\/strong> to:<\/p>\n HANSP representatives presented initial thoughts on redesigning the Athenai TMA<\/strong>, including the reclassification of part of the airspace to Class E<\/strong>. This change would provide increased flexibility for VFR flights,<\/strong> allowing the removal of some fixed routes while maintaining known reporting points for communication and search-and-rescue purposes.<\/p>\n These proposals require careful planning and consultation with multiple stakeholders but represent a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n With the initiative of the HCAA, a working group will be formed immediately to address issues related to VFR flights<\/strong>, with the participation of relevant organizations and stakeholders.<\/p>\nKey Discussion Topics<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Why Now?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Proposed Solutions<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Next Steps<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How Can Pilots Contribute?<\/strong><\/h3>\n