From 16 to 22 January inclusive, the Austrian Armed Forces’ air force will provide security on the occasion of the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland) will be stepping up security in Austrian airspace. For this purpose, a restricted flight area was established over parts of Vorarlberg and Tyrol.
More than 1,000 soldiers and 20 aircraft, eleven fixed-wing aircraft and nine helicopters, ensure the security of the event and protect the local population from dangers from the air. Among other things, patrol flights for surveillance, flights to identify airspace violations, transports and cross-border operations with Switzerland are carried out.
“In order for major events to take place at all, it is necessary to ensure the safety of the event participants as well as the local population. Both on the ground and in the air. With the airspace security operation “Daedalus 2023″, the Austrian Air Force, in cooperation with its Swiss comrades, is demonstrating its high level of expertise in carrying out this cross-border operation. As the airspace security operation is already included in the annual flight hour quota, there are no additional costs,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner.
Flights across the national border are constantly being intensified between Austria and Switzerland as part of the further development of cooperation. These pursuit flights are made possible by the mutual granting of entry permits.
The agreement between the Republic of Austria and the Swiss Confederation on cooperation in the area of cross-border airspace security against non-military threats from the air has been in full force and effect since February 1, 2019.
In the event of airspace violations close to borders, “cross-border operations” ensure that aircraft that do not comply with international aviation guidelines are monitored and escorted by each other. This ensures the observation of aircraft, but above all the early handover between the air forces of two states. However, the use of weapons in neighboring airspace is not permitted.
Similar cross-border cooperation has already existed on the ground for years and enables the police to extend pursuit activities to neighboring national territory. Due to the proximity of Davos to the border, Switzerland requested that surveillance of Austrian airspace in the affected area be stepped up.
