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“Air traffic control in the rally area will be taking place in a comparatively small and uncontrolled area, where various aircraft exist and are also airborne for various purposes. Restrictions on drones and other conventional aircraft have been established in the proximity of Rally Estonia special stages to ensure that aircraft flying above people do not endanger spectators nor other aircraft. It is important to bear in mind that flying drones during the rally is not permitted, and unauthorised drones will be removed,” said Kalmer Sütt, Head of the AIM Department of Estonian Air Navigation Services.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, a shareholder of Estonian Air Navigation Services (EANS), recalled Priit Põldoja from the position of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board as of 1 June 2021. Starting from 1 June 2021, Kuldar Väärsi will take over as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of EANS.

The general meeting of shareholders of EANS recalled Kaupo Raag as an active member of the Supervisory Board, and elected Sven Kirsipuu, Undersecretary of Budget Policy of the Ministry of Finance, as a new member of the Supervisory Board. Sven Kirsipuu was approved as a new member of the Supervisory Board for a term of three years by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure, Taavi Aas.

With the further enhancement of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and air taxis in the rapidly growing drone market comes the need for the evolution of technologies and framework conditions for their safe coexistence with manned aircraft. The SESAR JU project “GOF 2.0 Integrated Urban Airspace Validation”, with a consortium of 13 members, will focus on the safe, secure, and sustainable integration of unmanned aerial vehicle and air taxi operations in urban airspace and kicked-off at the end of January.

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, air traffic has decreased significantly in our area of responsibility (Tallinn FIR). At the deepest point of the crisis, traffic was -85% compared to the previous year. Until the beginning of September, the recovery continued slowly but steadily, reaching -57% compared to 2019.

Only 16 000 fans will be able to watch the rally due to corona virus spread, others will have to rely on live camera footage, which will be broadcast from helicopters in air, cameras on the ground and in competition cars. World-class video broadcast is not the only reason nearly 20 aircraft can be seen circling above the rally tracks.