In a bid to ensure the safety and grandeur of its highly anticipated Olympic opening ceremony, Paris will implement a no-fly zone over the city for six hours on July 26th, announced the Paris airports operator.
Augustin de Romanet, Chairman of Aéroports de Paris, disclosed that airlines are being preemptively notified of the airspace closure, mandating them to reroute flights away from the restricted area. The designated no-fly zone, extending 150 kilometers (93 miles) around Paris, is a collaborative effort between the civil aviation authority and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
With the unprecedented waterborne ceremony set along the River Seine and an estimated crowd of over 320,000 spectators expected, ensuring security poses a monumental challenge for Paris Games organizers. To bolster aerial surveillance, at least one French military AWACS surveillance aircraft will patrol the skies during the Olympics, equipped with powerful radar to detect potential airborne threats. Additionally, military aircraft stand ready to intercept any unauthorized flights breaching the restricted Olympic airspace.
In a separate development, de Romanet revealed plans for the trial of small electric-powered airborne taxis over Paris during the Games, potentially marking a world-first milestone in air transport. However, European air-certification authorities may initially limit the taxis to experimental passenger flights, delaying commercial operations.
Despite assurances of safety, concerns linger regarding the potential noise and safety hazards posed by airborne taxis, with critics, including Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, expressing reservations about trialing them in the city during the Olympics. Nevertheless, proponents view the initiative as a significant step toward realizing environmentally friendly air transport solutions.
