Federal army wide airspace surveillance – salzburg.ORF.at
Ukraine war
In response to the war situation in Ukraine, the army has expanded airspace surveillance. The airspace around Austria is observed from the operations center Basisraum, a bunker in Pongau. Those responsible in the military do not currently see a current danger, but the situation is being analyzed in detail.
The air traffic control center is located inside a mountain in Salzburg’s Pongau. The data from the actual radar stations is collected and evaluated there, explains Markus Kronreif, commander of airspace surveillance.
Airspace is monitored day and night
According to the commander, the airspace is always monitored: “The airspace surveillance is an association that has a permanent task even in peacetime, i.e. the tasks are fulfilled 24 hours a day. It is the same now. But a war in the immediate vicinity naturally triggers measures in the sense of special sensitivity and attention towards the East.”
Markus Kronreif cites the incident in Croatia as an example. A drone entered Croatian airspace undetected in the capital Zagreb and crashed in a park. More on this in news.ORF.atorf.at (03/11/2022).
No acute danger, but special observation
The army does not currently see a current threat to Austrian airspace. Nevertheless, developments in and around Ukraine are being closely monitored and investigated by air traffic control. “We probably have to recognize, make an assessment and take measures,” emphasizes Markus Kronreif.
What happens when an alarm occurs
If a possible danger to Austrian airspace is detected, the interceptors in the bunker are alerted and then guided to action by radar. There, too, operational readiness has been expanded, says Gerfried Promberger, Commander of the Air Force.
First and foremost, it is about clarifying where the flying object is flying, what its intention is and what type it is. “In the next stage, you can increase the readiness to sit, you can have the interceptors take off, you can send them to a so-called ‘holding’, which means that they wait up in the airspace and intercept the flight target at the border,” explains Gerfried Promberger.
Operations center of the airspace surveillance in Pongau
The air operations are coordinated by radar control officers from the Operations Center in Pongau. One of those responsible is Moritz Galsterer. “In general, we are trained to deal with special situations. But you are now looking at the Austrian airspace with a completely different eye and are very aware of your task and the responsibility you have,” emphasizes radar control officer Galsterer.