The 'hole' without civil flights around Paris during the opening of the Olympic Games

@DefAviation ES 7·26·2024 · 21:51 0

This Friday, on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games, the city of Paris is experiencing an unprecedented situation.

A fabulous video that shows the aircraft and the power of France's military aviation
A flight of a French Rafale fighter in Denmark demonstrating its extreme maneuverability

Due to the security risks, the French Air Defence and Air Operations Command (CDAOA) has organised a special air security device to ensure air protection during the event. A temporary no-fly zone has been set up around the city of Paris for all unauthorized aircraft and a temporary restricted area with controlled access.

This operation is staffed by E-3F Sentry AWACS aircraft and Dassault Rafale fighters (above) to monitor any larger aircraft that might stray into the no-fly zone. The Rafales are also supported by two A-330 MRTT tanker aircraft, which are circling Paris to remain airborne while the surveillance operation continues.

In addition, the French Air Force has deployed Pilatus PC-21 turboprop training aircraft (above) to be able to locate and, if necessary, eliminate possible smaller intruders: unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones.

The device is completed with Aérospatiale AS-555 Fennec helicopters of the French Air Force (above these lines) to collaborate in the detection of drones and other possible threats.

In addition, this security bubble is completed by a no-fly zone for all civilian flights within a 150km radius around Paris, from 6.30pm to midnight CET this Friday. Flights to Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle, Orly and Beauvais airports in Paris were halted at 17:30 CET. This no-fly zone also includes other French cities such as Orléans, Troyes, Reims, Amiens and Rouen.

Above we can see the air activity in France last Friday at 16:11 UTC, shown by Flightradar24. Below we can see the "hole" with no civil flights that has formed this afternoon.

The CDAOA released this image of the Paris exclusion zone at 18:30 UCT. Let's hope everything goes smoothly and the only news to comment on is the sporting successes of those taking part in these games.

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Images: Armée de l'Air.