National situation and command center for security in the airspace

The National Situation and Command Center for Security in Airspace ( NLFZ or NLFZ SiLuRa ) started operations in October 2003 in Uedem, Lower Rhine, in the barracks complex of the NATO Combined Air Operations Center Uedem on Paulsberg.

Management staff

In this center, German soldiers, officials of control Federal Police , the German air traffic control and the (since 2012) Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance together around the clock in shifts the airspace to terrorist threats (known by civilian aircraft Renegade Falls ward).

If necessary, information from the Federal Intelligence Service , the Federal Criminal Police Office or the police authorities of the federal states is also used; There is also cooperation with neighboring countries.

The NLFZ has a network of 45 radar systems (air traffic control / Bundeswehr) as well as the data from the AWACS early warning aircraft.

history

The red-green government was against the backdrop of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 in the United States and after the ghost of a confused flight motor glider pilot over Frankfurt the new in January 2003 Aviation Security Act in January 2005 decided. As early as October 1st, 2003, the National Situation and Command Center for Security in Airspace was set up jointly by the Federal Ministry of Defense , the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development as part of their organizational sovereignty. Since then, information from all departments and agencies at federal and state level that are concerned with airspace security, as well as their subordinate authorities, has been brought together and evaluated.

tasks

Counter- terrorism: Management of countermeasures in Renegade locations
Military air surveillance and identification of all air movements in German airspace (1,600–1,800 simultaneously; over 10,000 daily - as of April 2012)
Help in civil emergencies (e.g. support in the search for missing persons through the use of thermal imaging cameras on military reconnaissance aircraft)
Monitoring of on-the-fly cash transports (from the printing works to the banks)
Security measures in the context of major events (football World Cup, Pope's visit, etc.)
Monitoring of compliance with restricted areas, e.g. B. in flood disasters

composition

National Air Defense Command Center / Air Force Operations Center

The National Air Defense Command Center (FüZNatLV) formed the military part of the NLFZ SiLuRa until June 30, 2013. With the establishment of the Air Operations Center (ZentrLuftOp) on July 1, 2013, one of its core elements was the Air Force Operations Center (OpZLw), which in turn included the former FüZNatLV as a sub-area NLFZ SiLuRa. The members of the former FüZNatLV have since been brought together in a separate department of the ZentrLuftOp. As representatives of the Federal Ministry of Defense, the Air Force soldiers in the NLFZ SiLuRa provide the core element for military air defense measures to be carried out under national responsibility. Only the armed forces have the strength and resources to clearly identify aircraft over the territory of Germany. For this, the Air Force fighter aircraft of the type Euro Fighter and air traffic control facilities are of use Command and Control Service of the Air Force in permanent readiness available. The military part of the NLFZ consists of the department management and the evaluation, exercise and training (AÜA) part of the Duty Controller (DC), the Duty Controller Assistant (DCA) and the Air Surveillance Manager (ASM). As a special feature and to ensure the fastest possible response times, the shift staff on duty (DC, DCA and ASM) report directly to the German Air Defense Commander (Ge ADCOM) in the context of operational situations. The Ge ADCOM is carried out by the inspector of the air force. The Deputy Inspector of the Air Force, the Commander of the Air Operations Center and the Commanding General of the Air Force Troop Command act as the Available Ge ADCOM (A Ge ADCOM).

Internal security

From the area of "internal security", officers of the federal police in the branch office security in the airspace (ASt SiLuRa) of the federal police headquarters ensure the performance of tasks.

Air traffic control

A representative of the German Air Traffic Control (DFS) is a direct link to civil air traffic control agencies. At the same time, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure is coordinated as the department responsible for air traffic in Germany.

method

If a civilian aircraft is reported by a NATO air defense command post or air traffic control that deviates from its flight plan without authorization, behaves suspiciously or with which no radio contact can be established, the alarm system ( Quick Reaction Alert - "QRA") , which is still subordinate to NATO at this time, is triggered ) of a alarmed by two squadrons of the air force and fighter controllers of an air traffic control center ( Control and Reporting Center - "CRC") of the operational command service introduced to the aircraft to be identified. Have the fighters caught up with civil machine that can aircraft marks are recorded.

If the identity of the aircraft and a terrorist aircraft hijacking is confirmed, the command over the fighter aircraft used is transferred to the German operations management with the inspector of the air force as German Air Defense Commander . (The entire responsibility and decision-making authority remains with the Federal Minister of Defense or - in the case of possible coercive measures - with the Federal Cabinet). This means that the forces necessary for visual identification and interception of the suspected civilian machine will be placed under national command. The NLFZ coordinates all necessary measures and ensures that the management in the ministry is informed. As a rule, an attempt is then made to force the hijacked aircraft to land on a predetermined airfield, where specially trained ground units of the counter-terrorism take over the situation.

Other possible measures include support in the event of an emergency, making contact by means of visual signals or, if necessary, pushing away or forcing a landing. Any further measures such as the threat of armed violence or the firing of warning shots are currently legally controversial; shooting is not permitted. If a forced landing occurs, police forces at the airport can check and / or arrest the crew.

If a civil aircraft is abused for terrorist purposes, it is called a renegade.

Calls

About 20 times a year the air force carries out alarm starts with the alarm crews for visual identification, after which further necessary tactical measures are decided if necessary (e.g. checking of the cockpit, traffic diversion, etc.). Since 2012, there have been eight suspected Renegade cases (as of May 26, 2018), in which there was actually a suspicion of terrorism, which, however, was not conclusively confirmed in any of the cases. In most cases, however, the operations involve situations in which the radio link between aircraft and civil air traffic control is lost ( ComLoss ; until 2017 referred to as LossCom in the NLFZ ). Even though no suspicion of terrorism can be derived from this alone, it nevertheless creates a considerable potential risk. In most cases, this is caused by pilot errors, sometimes technical problems and rarely errors by air traffic control. In such situations the NLFZ cooperates with the Federal Air Traffic Control Authority (BAF). The BAF processes such cases and checks whether they are administrative offenses or even criminal offenses through a violation of the Aviation Act (LuftVG). Thanks to the cooperation between the NLFZ and the BAF, the number of annual ComLoss situations could be reduced from over 400 (in 2004) to approx. 240. This is not the core mission of the NLFZ, but as a side effect it makes a considerable contribution to traffic safety in the airspace.

For example, on Whit Monday, May 16, 2005, the complete failure of the on-board electronics including radio and navigation system of a single-engine Piper triggered terror alarm in the NLFZ. In addition to the pilot, there was also a woman as a passenger on board the machine that took off in Wroclaw , Poland .

The alarm squad of the then Jagdgeschwader 74 (now Tactical Air Force Wing 74) was notified due to the lack of radio contact. Two Phantom F-4F made visual contact with the pilot of the small aircraft and accompanied the aircraft to Stuttgart .

In the present case, the Air Force declared that no recourse claims would be made. However, this would happen if the pilot acted with gross negligence or intent. The Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation did not initiate a separate investigation into this case. Nevertheless, this incident should be classified as a reportable event. This means that the machine comes into maintenance operation and the authorities receive the technical report.

Web links

The look into the air welt.de, May 5, 2005, accessed on June 6, 2012

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b Helmut Michelis: Luftwaffe also protects the euro from Uedem. When billions worth billions of dollars are in transit over Germany, the Bundeswehr also oversees their flight path - one of the many tasks of the command center in Uedem. It is responsible for all security in the airspace, is intended to deter terrorists and even helps passenger jets in distress. In: RP online. Rheinische Post, May 1, 2012, accessed on February 20, 2015 .
↑ Trial of the Frankfurt ghost flight - random flyer comes to psychiatry. In: Spiegel online. November 7, 2003, accessed September 8, 2016 .
^ Thorben Pfeifer: On patrol in German airspace. In: Portal Luftwaffe. Bundeswehr, June 2, 2008, archived from the original on September 22, 2008 ; accessed on February 20, 2015 (description of the procedures for alerting the QRA).
^ Elmar Giemulla, Elmar M. Giemulla, Bastian R. Rothe (eds.): Law of aviation security . Springer Science & Business Media, 2008, ISBN 978-3-540-78996-3 ( Google Books page 85 ).
↑ PIZLw: national situation and command center airspace security. In: Portal Luftwaffe. Bundeswehr, July 30, 2014, accessed February 20, 2015 .
^ Frank Bötel: Background: Airspace surveillance in Germany. In: Armed Forces. Bundeswehr, December 3, 2013, accessed on February 20, 2015 .
↑ Launch authorization in the Aviation Security Act void. (PDF, 376 kB) Press release 11/2006. Federal Constitutional Court (press office), February 15, 2006, archived from the original on February 21, 2007 ; accessed on February 20, 2015 .

[RP-1] Helmut Michelis: Luftwaffe also protects the euro from Uedem. When billions worth billions of dollars are in transit over Germany, the Bundeswehr also oversees their flight path - one of the many tasks of the command center in Uedem. It is responsible for all security in the airspace, is intended to deter terrorists and even helps passenger jets in distress. In: RP online. Rheinische Post, May 1, 2012, accessed on February 20, 2015 .

[2] Trial of the Frankfurt ghost flight - random flyer comes to psychiatry. In: Spiegel online. November 7, 2003, accessed September 8, 2016 .

[3] Thorben Pfeifer: On patrol in German airspace. In: Portal Luftwaffe. Bundeswehr, June 2, 2008, archived from the original on September 22, 2008 ; accessed on February 20, 2015 (description of the procedures for alerting the QRA).

[4] Elmar Giemulla, Elmar M. Giemulla, Bastian R. Rothe (eds.): Law of aviation security . Springer Science & Business Media, 2008, ISBN 978-3-540-78996-3 ( Google Books page 85 ).

[5] PIZLw: national situation and command center airspace security. In: Portal Luftwaffe. Bundeswehr, July 30, 2014, accessed February 20, 2015 .

[6] Frank Bötel: Background: Airspace surveillance in Germany. In: Armed Forces. Bundeswehr, December 3, 2013, accessed on February 20, 2015 .

[7] Launch authorization in the Aviation Security Act void. (PDF, 376 kB) Press release 11/2006. Federal Constitutional Court (press office), February 15, 2006, archived from the original on February 21, 2007 ; accessed on February 20, 2015 .