On Sunday, November 5, the largest in the history of the country, the international exercise Degel Cajol (Blue Flag, Blue Flag 2017) began on the basis of the Uvda Air Force in the Negev desert.
In exercises, in addition to Israel, combat aircraft and ground personnel of seven states - the USA, Greece, Italy, Poland, Germany, France and India - are participating.
The last three countries sent their pilots to the Israeli exercises for the first time. According to updated official data, in total more than a thousand crews participate in the exercises (previously it was reported about 100 aircraft and more than 700 personnel).
In particular, India sent a special-purpose aircraft C-130J to Israel and a division of the Garud Air Force Special Forces, as well as representatives of various Indian Air Force units.
Observe the exercises, which will last until November 16, representatives of the Air Force and military attaches in more than 40 countries.
In connection with the exercises from time to time, the airspace over Eilat will overlap, so changes in the schedule of civil flights are possible. At the same time, the press service of the IDF stresses that everything is being done to ensure that military exercises do not affect civilian air traffic. Judging by the online scoreboard of the airports "Ben Gurion" and "Sde Dov", while all flights to Eilat and from Eilat are on schedule.
The exercise is coordinated with the Airports Authority of Israel, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Transport and the Municipality of Eilat