Hungarian–Canadian Observation Flight in Russia
Szöveg: honvedelem.hu | 2014. április 19. 6:01Pursuant to the Treaty on Open Skies, Hungary and Canada conducted an observation flight over the territory of the Russian Federation between April 7–12, 2014. The observation team concentrated on the southern- south-western areas of Russia, as they received special attention due to the situation in Ukraine.
The crew conducting the mission
During the six-day stay in Russia, the team had three days available for flying and taking aerial photos, which enabled them to observe 5,500 km in Russian airspace.
On Wednesday, the first day, the observation team flew 1,397 km in 3 hours 52 minutes, and took almost 100 photos to survey the area between Kubinka and Rostov, near Ukraine, making good use of the opportunities provided by the Treaty on Open Skies, several times approaching the Russian–Ukrainian border to some 100 meters at some points.
On Thursday, the observation team surveyed the areas south of Rostov-na-Donu by flying 1,294 km in 3 hours 58 minutes, and 1,336 km in 3 hours 28 minutes. On Friday, the team flew 1,384 km in 3 hours 50 minutes to inspect the area between Rostov and Kubinka. The maximum flight distance of 5,411 km is of the order of the distance between New York and London.
While flying on the routes, the teams are allowed to deviate at most 150 meters from the submitted flight plan, which demands great concentration and divided attention of the An–26 flight crew. During the mission, cooperation was given priority all along. Altogether close to 600 aerial photographs were taken during the flights, which were conducted in favorable weather conditions for the most part. The Hungarian–Canadian team returned to Kecskemét on April 12. The photographs will be developed in Hungary, and multiple copies will be made available for all three states involved. To close the mission, the team will prepare a mission report and make it available for the States Parties of the Treaty on Open Skies.
Between March 24 and 28, 2014, France conducted an identical observation flight over Russian areas, which, as a hired task, was also carried out with the use of Hungarian Open Skies aircraft and camera. This means that the French party set the flight route and the areas to be observed, but used Hungarian An-26 aircraft and aerial photographic equipment, as well as the experience of Hungarian transport aircraft crew and experts.
In October every year, the Open Skies missions are discussed by the State Parties to the Treaty in Vienna, where the Open Skies Consultative Commission (OSCC) – which is to monitor compliance with the terms of the Treaty – holds its meetings. The Commission uses the infrastructure (building, secretariat) of the OSCE.
Four passive and four active quotas every year
Hungary is obliged to receive Open Skies observations flights four times every year (four passive quotas), and it has a right to conduct observation times over the territories of the State Parties four times per year (four active quotas). At the 2013 OSCC meeting, Hungary and Canada collectively requested quotas to conduct observation flights in the Russian Federation.
Russia requested and received a Hungarian quota, so Hungary must prepare itself for receiving a Russian observation flight in 2014, at a date set by Russia. The experts of the Hungarian Defence Forces, the sensor operators and the flight crew of the An-26 transport aircraft have been cooperating with several countries for years in an international environment to provide this fundamental pillar of confidence and security building among the states.
