Romanian Air Forces took over officially the Kabul International Airport (KAIA) Command from the Hungarian Air Forces on Friday, April 1st , Afghanistan.
The ceremony was led by the ISAF Deputy Commander Air Component Command Major General Joachim Wundrak and was attended by the Chief of Air Force Staff Major General Fanica Carnu and a delegation of the General Staff, headed by Major General Alexandru Rus.
After the national anthem of Afghanistan, Hungaria and Romania was played, KAIA colors was took by the Romanian Air Forces detachment commander, Air Flotilla General Victor Strimbeanu, and the handing over-taking over protocol was signed.
In his message to the KAIA detachment’s troops, Defence Minister Gabriel Oprea prompted them to follow the model of their colleagues who had carried out the same mission five years ago doing an excellent job and proving, once again, the professionalism and reliability the military airmen are famous for home and abroad.
\'A difficult mission is waiting for you ahead. You will have the responsibility to coordinate an airfield with 450-500 different flights daily, in an area in permanent terrorist threaten. You have worked hard to be able to accomplish this highly important mission for the Air Forces, Armed Forces and for Romania as NATO member state. That is why I hold the confidence that the attentively selected personnel and your intense training set the premises of a successful mission, at the highest standards. Go in and win!\'
At the end of the ceremony Major General Wundrak expressed his confidence in the Romanian team’s enthusiasm and professionalism, \'one of the best prepared national detachments to assume KAIA coordination since the beginning of the ISAF operation\'.
Romania is the first country within the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan that takes over the Kabul International Airport for one year period (by rotating two detachments at a six month period). Romanian troops will employ key-positions in the administrative and command structures of the airport: air traffic control, air operation control, flight security, logistic support and communications.

MoND Press Office