Critical Voice System Upgrade Stalls for Seven Years in Greek Airspace
Key Points
- 1The 4.7-million-euro Voice Communication and Recording System (VCRS) upgrade, Contract 03/2019, is seven years overdue, missing its September 2021 deadline.
- 2The project resurfaced after the January 2026 Athens FIR blackout, which exposed critical vulnerabilities in Greece's outdated air traffic control systems.
- 3The VCRS is blocked by a Court of Audit ruling (October 2025) but is essential for EU compliance and interoperability with the new TopSky ATC One system.
- 4Greece is now implementing a €364 million Action Plan, coordinated with EUROCONTROL and EASA, to fully modernize its air navigation services by 2028.
The recent communications blackout in the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) has brought sharp focus to a long-delayed aviation project. The incident, which occurred on January 4, 2026, caused widespread flight disruptions and exposed the critical weaknesses of Greece’s outdated air traffic control infrastructure.
At the center of this scrutiny is a crucial contract. The agreement, known as Contract 03/2019, was meant to modernize how air traffic controllers communicate with pilots. It covers the procurement of a new voice communication and recording system (VCRS) for the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA).
The Seven-Year Delay
The VCRS contract was signed in April 2019. It had an original delivery timeline of 30 months, setting a completion deadline for September 2021. However, the 4.7-million-euro system remains unfinished seven years later.
Officials and documents show the VCRS is deemed critical for flight safety. A former government official noted the existing system was outdated after years of austerity. In some cases, the old systems reportedly failed to record the unique number of each flight in the Greek FIR, which posed safety concerns and resulted in lost fees.
This new system is also essential for Greece's compliance with European Union air traffic law. It is necessary for interoperability with the new TopSky ATC One platform. The larger TopSky system is the planned central Air Traffic Management (ATM) upgrade, which itself is scheduled for completion by November 2028.
Legal and Operational Roadblocks
Transport Ministry sources cited several reasons for the extensive delay. These included force majeure linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other factors were technical complexity and the need for coordination with other major projects. Oversight committees, including controllers and safety engineers, also disagreed over technical specifications. Questions about post-installation support further complicated the process.
In November 2022, the HCAA attempted to amend the contract. This request came 14 months after the initial deadline was missed. The then-transport minister rejected the amendment, citing legal requirements. Officials reported the contractor, Space Hellas, was not declared in default. This was done to avoid further project delay.
Following the 2023 Tempe rail disaster and subsequent elections, oversight shifted. Legal advisers recommended declaring the contractor in default. However, the State Legal Council later advised the contract had not lapsed. This was based on the fact that materials were to be specified later. A revised committee was formed in December 2024. The HCAA announced a restart in April 2025. The Greek Court of Audit ultimately rejected the contract amendment in October 2025. The court ruled that a non-active contract cannot be modified.
The Urgent Modernization Push
The January 2026 blackout underscored the urgency of these upgrades. The incident was caused by a technical malfunction in telecommunications systems. This failure led to a massive radio interference that crippled air-to-ground voice communication.
Air traffic controllers unions have warned that communications systems are outdated and vulnerable. The last substantial investment in the radio frequency system was reportedly in 1999.
In response, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is now implementing a comprehensive plan. This €364 million Action Plan includes 364 actions to modernize air traffic systems by 2028. The plan is being coordinated with European bodies like EUROCONTROL and EASA.
Key actions include:
- Finalizing the VCRS system to connect with TopSky ATC One.
- Accelerating the procurement and installation of new Mode S radar systems.
- Implementing Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) procedures.
- Developing Data Link services.
Institutionally, the HCAA was reformed in October 2025. It became a Public Law Legal Entity to gain administrative autonomy. This reform was intended to help accelerate stalled projects. The HCAA has since filed an appeal against the Court of Audit ruling. A decision is expected in January 2026, which could allow the VCRS work to finally restart. The outcome is critical for Greece’s aviation infrastructure and its alignment with the Single European Sky initiative. For more on commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights.
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