Breaking a taboo in the armed forces: since Friday afternoon, everyone can in theory do whatever they want in the air above Austria. The Eurofighter fleet will not be operational for days. Although the planes are intact.
On Friday, the “Krone” came across five short, illegible lines that reveal deep problems in Austrian military defense: In the NOTAMs, the daily updated public flight information for all pilots worldwide, it can currently be read that no military flight has taken place Flight operations have been taking place in Zeltweg since Friday afternoon.
This means that no Eurofighter emergency take-offs are possible at the country’s only jet base. These should actually be on standby every day of the year, so that they can take off within a few minutes if there are unknown aircraft in the airspace or if there is a loss of communication. These types of operations take place approximately 50 times a year
Unidentified aircraft not identifiable
This weekend, for the first time in more than 50 years, no Eurofighter was on standby for several days. Normal operations will resume from tomorrow, Monday. If an unknown aircraft enters our airspace by then, it can circle unhindered above Austria. The flight-free time during the weekend was used until Saturday afternoon to carry out maintenance work on the runway’s cable diverter system.
But more weekends of air traffic control suspensions are likely to follow: an unofficial survey of the responsible authorities suggested another shortage would occur around Christmas. There would be enough planes and pilots in the Zeltweg. But employees of the flight operations services – especially air traffic controllers and the fire brigade – are no longer sufficient to keep the military airport operational on a daily basis. Retirements and other departures have contributed to increasing overtime hours, it said. The problem was known, but took years to resolve.
Particularly explosive: according to information from “Krone”, the Eurofighters intended for emergency take-offs have been shut down for days in the past to save overtime for major events such as “Airpower”. In an emergency situation, no plane would have taken off.
No sign of 24 hour surveillance
This differs greatly from the current development plans of the Ministry of Defense. With 17 billion euros more in the budget, new jet trainers must be purchased for the Linz-Hörsching location to ease the burden on the Eurofighter. And to expand active airspace surveillance to 24-hour operations, seven days a week. So far nothing has happened. The purchase of the new planes has been failing for almost a year due to internal audit processes at the ministry, and the ’24-hour’ surveillance has turned into a part-time air police force.
Minister of Defense responds to the ‘Krone’ report
Shortly after the circumstances in Zeltweg became known, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner responded: “When I found out today, I immediately instructed the General Staff to immediately find alternative solutions and implement them immediately, so that such a situation does not arise more could happen.”
The head of this general staff, i.e. the highest military officer in the country, is Rudolf Striedinger. He takes aim at the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Public Service and Sport (BMKÖS), which is responsible for salaries: “The Ministry of Defense has been working for years to solve the problem of too few air traffic controllers. There have been numerous discussions with the BMKÖS, which, however, did not recognize or did not want to recognize the magnitude of the problem,” Striedinger told the “Krone”. “The BMLV and its air traffic controllers compete directly with civil aviation. The BMLV will continue to take all measures to make the profession of air traffic controller attractive. However, the cooperation of the BMKÖS is absolutely necessary for this,” the general refers to the different pay levels for a comparable range of tasks between civilian and military pilots.
Experts agree that the original reason for the excessive demands on the Zeltweg site was the abandonment of Linz-Hörsching as a second jet base. When the Saab 105 fleet stationed there almost five years ago came to a standstill, the entire burden of active airspace surveillance fell on the Zeltweg. With a declining workforce.
Famous pilot no longer in the Eurofighter cockpit
The glaring lack of personnel is also reflected in a well-hidden shortcoming plaguing the air force: prominent Eurofighter pilot and social media star Patrick “Beauty” Wöss (pictured above), who only three weeks ago testified the fighter jet fleet gave interviews on ORF and is no longer a Eurofighter pilot. Since the summer he has been flying freight for a German airline.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
