newly inaugurated control tower – courtesy photo

The Director General of the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Ayiei Garang Deng, has dismissed claims that South Sudan lacks air traffic control services.

Speaking to state-owned TV SSBC days after President Salva Kiir launched the country’s air traffic management system and Juba control tower, Dr. Ayiei said South Sudan took control of its airspace after independence in 2011.

Responding to claims that the country had no control over its airspace and lacked the capacity to manage air traffic services, Dr. Ayiei said Sudan was only temporarily delegated to manage South Sudan’s airspace while the country developed the necessary infrastructure and trained personnel.

“South Sudan have their own air space since 2011 when we got independent. That is when we have our own air space. What we did as a country when we got independent, we delegate our responsibility to Sudan to manage our air space until we have achieved the three things; Number one, to have a human skill which is human capacity to manage our air space which is the traffic management and have infrastructure. We did not have ATM that we have now. And then the coordinator has ability that we can be able to coordinate between the state and the state. So, we have done this. ,” Dr. Ayiei said:

Dr. Ayiei said South Sudan now has trained air traffic controllers, improved infrastructure, and modern systems to fully manage its airspace operations.

“We already have a coordinate. We have a JIPFAIR created, it just was waiting for the announcement from a ICAO – the International Civil Aviation Organization. They just to put it on the website that Juba has created JPFAIR it has nothing to do with an air space,” Dr. Ayiei said:

Dr. Ayiei added that the system is supported by generators, city power, and solar energy to ensure continuous operations.

He also clarified that the role of the International Civil Aviation Organization is to support aviation safety and not issues related to sovereignty.