Last Monday, a crucial component for air traffic control was put in place: with a donation contract worth approximately €5 million, signed between the Civil Aviation Authority and five companies (Athens International Airport, Fraport Greece, Aegean Airlines, Sky Express and GEK TERNA), the procurement and installation of a Voice Communication & Recording System (VCRS) for the Athens and Macedonia Area Control Centers is moving forward, with completion scheduled for January 2027.
However, according to information from “Parapolitika“, this was just the beginning of a major aviation systems upgrade plan, the largest ever implemented in the country, as relevant sources emphasize. With a total budget reaching €220 million, the modernization plan that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport aims to implement aspires to turn a new page in air traffic management in Greece and make it one of the most modern in Europe.
Aviation: The pillars of the systems upgrade plan
At the core of the plan is a multi-level Action Plan, with key pillars including digital communications (DLS), voice systems upgrade (VCRS), new central air traffic management system (TopSky ATC One), modern navigation implementation (PBN) and installation of new Mode S radars. In this way, the responsible minister, Christos Dimas, attempts to achieve compliance with European law in the field of air traffic management and bring the required modernization.
The plan includes a total of 364 actions, organized into seven pillars, with milestones and a continuous monitoring mechanism, while being implemented from June 2025 to December 2028, in close cooperation with the European Commission and relevant European organizations. As people with knowledge of the relevant procedures point out, Greece is transitioning from a system that relied mainly on voice communication and older technologies to a fully digital, interconnected and automated environment.
In detail, the first major step concerns Data Link Services (DLS). These are essentially what are called “text messages of the sky”: instead of pilots receiving instructions only via radio, they will be able to receive them in written, digital form as well. This drastically reduces errors caused by misunderstandings or poor audio quality, while decongesting radio frequencies. At the same time, it allows better management of more flights in the same airspace.
The upgrade of the Voice Communication & Recording System (VCRS) is also significant, which constitutes the “backbone” of communication between controllers and aircraft. The new system replaces old analog circuits with digital ones, ensuring high reliability and continuous operation even in case of failure thanks to multiple levels of redundancy.
This framework includes the heart of the technological upgrade, with a time horizon of December 2028, which concerns the new air traffic management system, TopSky ATC One. The project involves upgrading the Data Processing System (DPS) and surveillance systems (seven radar systems) of the Civil Aviation Authority, with transition to the European TopSky ATC One platform. This is one of the most advanced systems worldwide, bringing automation, prediction tools and real-time conflict detection, as well as significant reduction in controllers’ workload. With quadruple safety valves and full data integration (radar, flight plans, etc.), this system allows safer and faster decisions, while increasing airspace capacity.
Precise and flexible routes
A significant part of the upgrade is Performance Based Navigation (PBN), one of the most substantial changes for passengers, even if it’s not visible. Aircraft will now be able to follow more precise and flexible routes, based on satellite data and not just traditional means. This means fewer delays, lower fuel consumption and reduced pollutant emissions. The implementation will cover 31 airports in the country, essentially changing the “map” of flights.
The implementation, however, was not without obstacles. The relevant international tender was affected by legal complications, with the decision of the Athens Administrative Court of Appeal leading to a restart of the evaluation process. Now, after rejecting the initial proposal and activating the next candidate, the award is expected within April, while the contract signing is placed in the second quarter of the year, opening the way for full project development.
Finally, the installation of new radars with Mode S and Enhanced Mode S technology brings a more accurate and comprehensive picture of air traffic. The new systems are not limited to just detecting an aircraft’s position, but also allow transmission of critical data such as altitude, speed and identity, significantly enhancing surveillance and safety.
This upgrade has already begun implementation, as in December 2025 the tender announcement was published by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority for the procurement and installation of surveillance systems at eight airports, with a total budget of €53.6 million. According to the latest information, the process is in the evaluation phase, with the responsible committee having already proceeded with opening the bids and checking technical specifications.
Finally, the upgrade is not limited only to existing systems. A significant development is also the tender for the aviation systems of the new airport in Kastelli Heraklion, which will be equipped with a fully digital control tower, modern communications, advanced radar and high-precision meteorological systems.
New era in air traffic
- Procurement and installation of voice communication and recording system
- Pilots will also receive instructions in digital form via radio
- New, ultra-modern air traffic management system (TopSky ATC One)
- Quadruple safety valves and full data integration (such as radar, flight plans, etc.)
- Performance Based Navigation (PBN) for more precise and flexible routes
- New radars with Mode S and Enhanced Mode S technology
- Fully digital control tower and advanced systems at the new airport in Kastelli Heraklion
Published in Parapolitika
