Air Space Violations Heating Up

Monday, November 2, 2009

DefenceNet reports that today 6 Turkish Air Force fighter aircraft flew directly over Farmakonisi Island while the total number of Air Space Violations reached 20. It is the first time since the new Socialist government came to power that Turkish Air Force jets directly overfly Greek soil. The overflight happened at 1,300 metres.

Specifically, 8 Turkish F-16s entered the Athens FIR at 15:04 and 6 minutes later 6 of the aircraft overflew Farmakonisi Island.

Greek fighters intercepted the Turkish jets and escorted them during their flight until they exited the Athens FIR north of Chios Island.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been notified and it is expected a formal demarche will be made to Turkey.

Turkey does not recognise Farmakonisi Island as Greek soil, something also evident from its harassment of Frontex flights in the area.

A total of 16 Turkish fighters made a total of 20 violations today in the northern and central Aegean. There was also one mock engagement.

http://hellenicdefencenews.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

Original source (in Greek language): http://www.defencenet.gr/defence/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9475&Itemid=139

On Tuesday, a Turkish S-70B6 Seahawk helicopter flew over the Greek island of Ro at an altitude of just 65 meters! This is a new provocation in the area of the island of Kastelorizo, more serious compared to the overflight of two Turkish RF-4E fighter jets over Kastelorizo at 300m altitude two months ago.

The helicopter did not take off from the nearby Turkish naval base of Aksaz, but from the air base in Dalaman which is well north. This is important: It is clear that a surprise was attempted. A Navy helicopter solo flight from Aksaz towards the south region of Kastelorizo, would be directly observed by the Greek Air Defense system.

A flight from Dalaman Airport to the south can have a variety of destinations, but due to the distance, almost never reach the island of Kastelorizo and the cluster of islands and islets in the region (Ro, Stroggyli, etc). In this case the helicopter was on the Greek early warning radar system, but became a concern when it moved just 10 miles before reaching the sea.

The helicopter entered the Athens FIR without filing a flight plan.The overflight at an altitude of 200 feet (65 meters) took place at 15:24. The Turkish helicopter left the Greek National Airspace and the Greek FIR before the Greek jet fighters that were scrambled for the interception reached the area.

In another incident later on Tuesday, six Turkish planes entered Greek airspace without submitting flight plans on Monday evening. The six aircraft entered the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) between the islands of Lesvos and Chios, a short distance from the western Anatolian coast line. Two infringements of air traffic regulations on the Athens FIR were recorded that later developed into 5 violations of national airspace. The Turkish planes were chased out by Greek fighter jets and promptly left the Athens FIR at about 8.40pm.

http://www.defencegreece.com/index.php/2012/01/turkish-navy-helicopter-flying-over-a-greek-island-at-65m-altitude/