|
Last update - 28/1/2005
Dear friends,
We gladly present you the article from the AOPA USA website, in which describes the reasons for the visit of president Phil Boyer in Athens:
At the invitation of AOPA-Hellas, IAOPA President Phil Boyer visited Athens from 24-27 November to work with high-level government officials in creating a better environment for general aviation in Greece. Boyer and AOPA-Hellas President Yiouli Kalafati met with the Ministers of Defence, Transportation, Communications and Tourism to discuss better facilities and provisions for general aviation, especially for the reopening of Athens' Hellinikon Airport, its only general aviation airport. The airport was closed to accommodate this year's summer Olympics and has not been reopened. Boyer was optimistic about the meetings, commenting, "The officials I met with were receptive to the idea of reopening Hellinikon for GA."
Boyer also participated in the AOPA-Hellas Aviation Day in which government dignitaries, civil aviation officials, and others promoted general aviation. "The number one problem is the lack of a general aviation airport in Athens, home to almost half of the Greek population," said Boyer. "And like so many examples in other countries, the problem was created by the closure of two perfectly good GA airports. But, the concerted efforts of local organizations can save our valuable airports."
Additionally, Boyer participated in the semi-annual IAOPA European Regional Meeting, held the day after the Aviation Day presentations in Athens. The meeting served to air issues of mutual importance and to provide a platform for developing new regional strategies. Boyer complimented participants on their efforts to improve conditions for general aviation and aerial work in Europe.
AOPA helps in fight for Athens (Greece) airport
America leads the world in aviation, which also means that we lead the world in aviation problems and ways to solve them. That's why AOPA President Phil Boyer found himself in Greece during the Thanksgiving holiday.
AOPA-Hellas (Greece) President Yiouli Kalafati invited Boyer, who also serves as president of the 60-country International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA), to lend some international clout and experience to efforts to reopen a general aviation airport in the Greek capital and expand general aviation access throughout the country. Thanks to that high-profile IAOPA presence, Greek general aviation pilots got audiences with some of the country's aviation "heavy hitters," including the minister of defense, the deputy minister of transportation and communications, the minister of tourism, and the head of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority.
"The number one problem is the lack of a general aviation airport in Athens, home to almost half of the Greek population," said Boyer. "And like so many examples here in the United States, the problem was created by the closure of two perfectly good GA airports."
That parallels the issues in Austin, Texas, where the old commercial service airport (Robert Mueller Memorial Airport) and a general aviation facility (Executive Airport) were closed without adequate replacements for GA.
In Greece, officials closed the general aviation airport at Marathon (26 miles from Athens) to create a linear water park for Olympic rowing events. They closed Athens' Hellinikon Airport (LGAT) and replaced it with a larger international airport farther away from the city. Part of Hellinikon was converted into Olympic venues, and a tram system was constructed across one runway end. That left general aviation homeless.
But it also left some 1,600 meters (5,300 feet) of runway untouched and unused at Hellinikon perfect for general aviation. Not only that, the tower is still in place, and Athens' air traffic control radar facility is still housed there.
"The officials I met with were receptive to the idea of reopening Hellinikon for GA," said Boyer. "And with Greece's beautiful Mediterranean weather, our colleagues at AOPA-Hellas would like to make Greece the 'Florida' of Europe the perfect spot for flight training."
But Greek officials also indicated they faced local pressure to turn the seaside location into a park. To that, Boyer talked about the experience with Florida's Albert Whitted Field, where airport opponents unsuccessfully tried to convince voters to close the airport for a "park."
"When talking about prime real estate, you always have to be suspicious of 'park' plans," said Boyer. "As was the case with Albert Whitted, the real purpose may very well be to grab land for expensive condos and other development."
Other issues for general aviation pilots in Greece include access to existing airports, both civilian and joint-use military fields. Many airports are open only when an airline flight is scheduled. That means GA pilots have to time their flights around the airline schedule. In some cases, that means an airport is only open for an hour a day.
Greek pilots also are trying to get better access to military airfields. Currently pilots have to provide four days advance notice with the exact time of arrival and names of passengers to use a military field. Boyer suggested to the minister of defense that they consider a "trusted pilot" program through AOPA-Hellas, allowing pilots previously vetted more "real time" access to the airports. As experience is gained with the program, trusted pilot status might be extended to AOPA members from neighboring countries.
And the high cost of flying bedevils Greek pilots. But American pilots should consider this: Tax alone on a gallon of aviation gasoline in Greece is the equivalent of $14!
And one lesson that bears repeating. When it comes to saving an airport, it's local action that generates success.
"One Greek pilot thought they were powerless to reopen Hellinikon because they were 'only 115 people,'" said Boyer. "It was a lot fewer people who saved Albert Whitted, but they were passionate and involved in their community.
"It took the help of a national organization like AOPA, but AOPA couldn't have done it alone," Boyer concluded. "In the end, it's your airport, and it's up to you to protect it. And that's the same whether its Athens, Greece, or Athens, Georgia."
|
