Government to set up national body to manage state aircraft

Gazzetta team 26 Νοεμβρίου 2015 - 18:54

Greece is to set up a national body for managing state aircraft, both civilian and military, which will be answerable to the Air Force General Staff, a meeting of all the various ministers involved decided on Thursday.

The aim is to more fully and efficiently, as well as more cost-effectively, cover all Greek society's needs for aircraft, including in fire fighting, forest patrols, medical air lifts, search and rescue work and provide air support in states of emergency.

During the meeting, which was held at the defence ministry, the ministers signed a joint ministerial decree assigning the work of medical air lifts to the armed and security forces, in order to cut costs.

"I consider that the cost will be reduced, the hours the aircraft need to respond will be reduced and we will also have the capability needed to cover the needs of the island complexes, the inaccessible regions, so Greek citizens will feel safe," Defence Minister Panos Kammenos noted.

Also participating were Shipping and Island Policy Minister Thodoris Dritsas, Alternate Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Toskas and Alternate Health Minister Pavlos Polakis.