With a NOTAM (NOtice To AirMen) Charleroi Airport informed the pilots of general aviation traffic not to fly to and from the airport between 30 December and 4 January. Commercial aviation traffic is not affected by the measure.
A4015/17 NOTAMN Q) EBBU/QATLT/IV/NBO/AE/000/055/5028N00427E005 A) EBCI B) 1712300530 C) 1801042200 D) 30 0530-2200, 31 0530-2200, 01 0530-1445, 02 0530-2200, 03 0530-2200, 04 0530-2200 E) CHARLEROI CTR AND CHARLEROI TMA LTD: VFR AND IFR PROHIBITED EXC TO COMMERCIAL FLT, BUSINESS AVIATION FLT OPERATED BY JET OR TURBO-PROPELLER ACFT, SAR FLT, FEDERAL POLICE FLT AND EMERG DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGES
Belgocontrol spokesman Alain Kniebs explains: “We are indeed facing a staff shortage, mainly due to illness. We have called upon employees in their holidays to replace their ill colleagues. Hence we decided to restrict the airspace for general aviation traffic (leisure traffic) so the commercial aviation traffic will not be affected.”
The measure was announced two days up front to allow flying schools at Charleroi Airport to move their aircraft to other airports in Belgium.
Yesterday afternoon air traffic was also restricted at Brussels Airport with incoming flights receiving “slots”, air traffic restrictions, at their departing airports, due to the same reason.
