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You won't believe it unless you experience it // Humans of NATO Days

On the other side of the airport, away from the public displays, parked planes and helicopters. Waiting for their time to show off to visitors. They are carefully managed by a team led by Capt. Leona Hájková from the 26th Command, Control and Reconnaissance Regiment. As the coordinator of safety measures on the dynamic apron, she oversees strict compliance with the rules and precautions so that nothing happens to people or aircraft. Sounds simple, but what's behind this position? Has she found her favourite among the aircraft? And how does she remember writing the first monograph on the Air Force? We asked, Captain Hájková answered, and now you can read it.

How did you get into the Armed Forces and the Air Force? Did little Leona dream of being a soldier? 
My joining the Armed Forces and the Air Force was rather accidental. After graduating from college, I worked in two civilian companies and got a taste of how unstable and erratic the private sector can be. The role of “recruiter” at the time was filled by my mother, who was a professional soldier at the time and correctly sensed that a uniform would be just right for me.

What positions have you been through and what is your regular job now? 
The armed forces offer not only a regular salary but also a lot of new experience and career progression. I have been through many roles in my twenty years of service, from a training instructor, to command positions in a combat security company, to managing a security battalion operations group, to my current assignment as Chief of the Planning Group of the Command and Staff of the 26th Command, Control and Reconnaissance Regiment. I will soon be reassigned as Chief of Planning, Combat and Mobilization Readiness. In my eyes, the Armed Forces are a force of unlimited possibilities for one short life. Of course, to join all the specialties, one needs to take professional or career courses and maintain the required level of English language.

Within the Air Force, the 26th Command, Control and Reconnaissance Regiment is not as visible to the public as combat units equipped with fighter jets or helicopters. What is its role?
The 26th Command, Control and Reconnaissance Regiment “ of Army General Karel Janoušek” performs a full spectrum of tasks as part of the units under the command of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). Its main task is the continuous security of the inviolability of the Czech airspace within the framework of the single NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS) and the National Air Defence Reinforcement System of the Czech Republic (NAPOSY PVO ČR). It is capable of providing comprehensive radar information on air traffic in the Czech airspace and beyond. Its radar units are deployed in almost all regions of the country.
If there is an incident in civil airspace (identification of non-communicating aircraft, loss of communication, sending an emergency signal...), the whole situation is immediately taken over by the combat use controllers from the air traffic control centre of our regiment. They provide the combat pilots with a perfect overview of the air situation and their priority is always to guide the fighters safely and as quickly as possible through the civilian traffic to the aircraft that is the subject of the engagement.

At NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days your work is essential for the smooth running of the flying displays. Can you describe what your role as a safety coordinator on the dynamic apron entails?
Ensuring safety on the flight stand involves overseeing strict adherence to specific safety measures during the preparation and execution of the event. For the safety of the flight stand, this mainly involves observing all the rules defined for the organisation and provision of fire protection and for safe movement and entry to the individual zones of Leoš Janáček Ostrava Airport. Our military team works in cooperation with the Leoš Janáček Ostrava Airport Security Service and the Police of the Czech Republic.

How is the dynamic apron prepared before the event? How many people are involved in its security?
The dynamic apron area is a dynamic space with a variety of operational hazards. Risk sections need to be analysed, appropriate measures set up and continuously monitored. This is the only way to prevent possible incidents. A team headed by a flight stand guard coordinator is assigned to monitor the area on a regular basis. Due to the constant movement of personnel, the movement of vehicles to be transported from the stand to the public demonstration area must also be monitored. A special corridor has been designated for this transport.

Are there any specifics arising from the fact that NATO Days are held at a civilian airport with normal traffic?
This is a question for the Leoš Janáček Airport Security Service. As a rule, civilian traffic does not affect our work. The airport has this connection worked out perfectly.

Does it happen that some teams have specific requirements regarding parking or aircraft security?
What do you consider specific about the apron? Miracles are performed on demand and the impossible within three hours. All personnel must be given what they need to be able to perform as required. Aircraft parking is predetermined by the flight plan. Colleagues from the dynamic section of the apron will then guide the aircraft to its destination and usually deal with the pilot's requirements for servicing the aircraft. In 2023, only US pilots of the F-35 had higher security requirements to prevent the leakage of classified information about the aircraft's structural parts. “Unauthorized” people could only approach the fighter with their escort and at the correct angle. So we tried to keep prying eyes at a respectful distance.

What types of aircraft or helicopters are the most challenging to manage in terms of safety?
Each aircraft with its engine running has its own circuit that no one is allowed to enter for safety reasons. Helicopters usually land on a designated grassy area, which at the time of take-off and landing acts as a no-entry zone boundary in itself.  The blades of the helicopter rotors tilt downwards as they rotate, creating a fairly strong vortex through which dust and larger objects can be thrown into the area. Heat and exhaust gases also pose a risk. 
The surface must be kept under observation at all times, as well as the airplanes in the dynamic part of the stand. In addition, jet fighter engines pose a risk of hearing damage. Starting aircraft are capable of producing approximately 120 decibels of high frequency noise that can cause painful ear injury and, after a few minutes, hearing loss.

Does your work change fundamentally when there is bad weather, which can disrupt flight plans - not only for displays, but also for arrivals and departures?
Of course, we cannot obey nature and just as NATO Days were cancelled in 2024 due to floods, it happens that dynamic displays are also postponed or cancelled due to weather. During regular briefings, our colleagues present us with information on the status and development of the hydrometeorological conditions, to which the air traffic controllers and the organizational staff react in such a way that the safety of all event participants comes first. Changes are reflected in the flight plan, so we have a constantly updated timeline of the subsequent movement on the dynamic apron.

What is the most difficult part of your job during NATO Days - and what is the most fun?
The hardest part is probably having eyes everywhere. This is true not only for me, but for all colleagues involved in maintaining security. And what do I enjoy the most? I enjoy the morning when we open the gate and walk in as one of the first on the dynamic apron, anticipating the varied events of the day ahead. I enjoy the evenings when we “put the airport to sleep” and after the day's hustle and bustle, watch the sun set over the plethora of aviation equipment with inner peace. Being involved in NATO Days is amazing in itself. It fascinates me to see how, in such a complex mechanism, everyone knows their role and fits seamlessly into a huge gear that creates an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages.

Do you have a “favourite” among the equipment that appears here? An aircraft that always pleases you? Or perhaps the crew?
No crew is to be sidelined, they are all great and there is a friendly atmosphere on the apron. What perhaps amused and delighted me the most was the Polish helicopter crew who carry a Czech partner on board, a cuddly mole as a talisman.

The dynamic apron is at the opposite end of the airport from the public area. During the event, do you have the opportunity to go see the displays and enjoy the atmosphere among the visitors, or is it almost at the other end of the world for you at that moment?
I usually visit the other end when something needs to be dealt with and within that I have a moment to go through the static displays, say hello to friends or watch one of the dynamic displays. Believe it or not, the best displays are the rehearsals over the dynamic apron when the pilots practice for the weekend. The planes are in the palm of your hand and the soundscape gets your heart racing.

Among other things, you are also the main author of the very first monograph on the Czech Air Force. It was published in 2023 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its creation and took several years to prepare. Can you tell us how the book was written? 
I gained a comprehensive understanding of how complex a mechanism the Czech Air Force is and how important each of its units is for our republic only during my time at the Air Force Headquarters. That's when I got the nod to write a book about how strong a part of the Armed Forces the Air Force is. After a year and a half of sleepless nights and comparing sources, I have come to the completion of a manuscript on the Air Force and its operations today. However, the 30th anniversary of the Czech Republic was approaching and the Military History Institute decided to publish the book as an anniversary publication and expand it with a historical perspective of the last thirty years. Further weeks of additions, compilations and revisions followed with a close-knit team helping to bring the book to its desired conclusion. Thanks to Jaroslav Sekanina, Radomir Holuš, Zuzana Sekaninová, and Jiří Král, “Air Force of the Czech Armed Forces” has become a cut and polished diamond. Of course, many other colleagues who have taken the liberty to revise historical and technical texts or contributed beautiful photographs also deserve a big thank you and have their place in the book.

What surprised you while writing it? What did you learn about the Air Force?
I guess every new page was a surprise to me. The more I dove into gathering information and piecing it together, the more I realized how little I actually knew about the Air Force. Now I could go on for hours about how many capabilities they possess.

What feelings come up when you think back on writing the book now, nearly two years after its publication? Do you have a similar intention in mind now?
My feelings are mixed, even with hindsight; not everything was a walk in the park. With the great support of the Commander of the Air Force, Major General Petr Čepelka, and the Director of the Military Historical Institute, Brigadier General Aleš Knížek, the book was finally published in a form that I am happy to look at any time and I know that the effort was worth it.
I will gladly leave further creative work to colleagues who feel up to it. I think I have exhausted myself in this area for some time.

And finally, on a personal note, what do you like to do in your spare time when you're not dealing with dynamic apron and safety?
If I say my hobby is my job, some people will tap their foreheads. But I have really found myself in the variety of people, environments and tasks. At home, of course, in my spare time, I don't just do disassembly and reassembly for fun, I'm dedicated to my family and love spending time in the garden. I love to travel, explore new environments, new cultures, compare living conditions and always love to come home.

Is there anything you would like to say to visitors and fans of NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days? 
I recommend everyone to visit NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days at least once in their life, because you won't believe it unless you experience it. Jagello 2000 in cooperation with the Czech Armed Forces and allied partners provide a great spectacle and unforgettable experience for the spectators every year.