Author: natodays.cz|Caption: NATO Days 2019
This year's NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days, despite the covid-19 epidemic, will take place at the Leoš Janáček Ostrava Airport complex on 19th-20th September. It will be exceptional in its idea, which is to thank the members of the Integrated Rescue System and security forces, who were heavily involved in managing the coronavirus crisis. As part of the program, two significant anniversaries will also be commemorated, namely 75 years since the end of World War II, and 15 years since the introduction of JAS-39 Gripen aircraft into the Czech Air Force.
As a result of the pandemic of a new type of coronavirus, almost 80% of aviation operations across Europe have been canceled or relocated. NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days thus remain one of the few events in Europe and the only one in Central Europe, which will take place in its original term with a live program that can be watched live on Czech Television and on the Internet.
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"Unfortunately, the development of the epidemiological situation and the measures taken against the spread of coronavirus in the Czech Republic do not allow us to organize NATO Days in their classic form," Zbyněk Pavlačík, Chairman of Jagello 2000 and main organizer of NATO Days in Ostrava, says. "Other air days, including the biggest ones such as Air Tattoo, Sanicole or SIAF, have been canceled for this year or are taking place in a so-called virtual format without live demonstrations."
The weekend program will also include an award for a total of thousands of members of the IRS and security forces with the subtitle "Thanks to those who protect us", which will take place with the participation of the highest representatives of the Government of the Czech Republic. On Saturday, 500 members of the Czech Army, the Czech Prison Service, the Czech Customs Administration and the Ostrava Municipal Police will be awarded, and on Sunday 500 members of the Czech Police, the Czech Fire and Rescue Service, hygienic stations and the medical rescue service, who significantly contributed to the management of the coronavirus crisis.
All performances at the event were confirmed by all traditional Czech participants who are preparing attractive ground and flight demonstrations. Despite the current measures, the organizers also count on the participation of foreign air forces, which will not operate for the most part from Mošnov Airport. They therefore negotiate flights with them or performances on a one-day basis.
As a result, for the first time at the event, the Saturday and Sunday program will be intentionally different. It will offer about eight hours of demonstrations over the weekend, none of which, unlike other events, will be screened from the recording, and it will also include several attractive news. This year it will be worth watching the largest security event in Europe again.
As usual, the live broadcast from the NATO Days program will be broadcast by Czech Television, the iDnes.cz portal, and it will be possible to watch it on social networks administered by Jagello. Compared to previous years, due to the change in the format of the event, the technical provision of the live broadcast will be significantly improved. For the first time, a similar event will use Wave Relay technology provided by Pramacom Prague to provide viewers with the best possible experience.
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Not only the event area itself will be closed to visitors, but for security reasons, as in previous years, the ban on entry to the lands of the Moravian-Silesian Region in the vicinity of Mošnov Airport will apply. Furthermore, the access roads between Nová Horka, Petřvald and Košatka will be closed, as a result of which it will not be possible to enter Petřvaldík. Therefore, planning the monitoring of aerial demonstrations in the vicinity of the event area is not recommended.
NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days could not take place without the support of long-term partners of the event, especially the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic, the Moravian-Silesian Region, the statutory city of Ostrava or the general partner, Saab.