Implications of reopening Sudanese airspace

The urgent need for technical and institutional preparedness to restore sovereignty and aviation safety

Ibrahim Adlan

Given the critical situation the country is facing, there is an urgent need for immediate and well-planned action to reopen Sudanese airspace as an essential part of restoring national sovereignty, reviving the economy, and facilitating humanitarian and commercial air transport. Reopening airspace is not merely a technical procedure—it is a complex process that requires technical readiness, sound infrastructure, qualified personnel, and coordinated regional and international planning.

This article outlines the key requirements, challenges, and opportunities related to reopening Sudanese airspace, emphasizing the importance of proactive action, rather than waiting for the war to end, to ensure operational readiness as soon as minimal stability is achieved.

1. Urgent rehabilitation of air navigation systems

Without effective infrastructure for air navigation systems such as VOR, DME, ILS, secondary and alternative surveillance (e.g., ADS-B), safe and organized flight operations are not possible. Therefore, it’s crucial to immediately assess the damage to these systems and begin repairing or replacing them. Delaying this process will result in:

• Continued loss of control over national airspace.
• Inability to accommodate overflight, humanitarian, or commercial traffic.
• Delayed recovery of sovereign revenues from air navigation services.

2. Requalifying and training technical personnel

Even with full infrastructure in place, the absence of qualified personnel renders operations impossible. Many air traffic controllers, radar engineers, and technical staff have been displaced or interrupted. Therefore, it’s essential to:

• Launch urgent and intensive training programs locally and abroad.
• Re-license and re-certify former personnel after competency assessments.
• Utilize international technical assistance programs (e.g., ICAO, IATA, COSCAP/AFI).

3. Importance of installing primary surveillance radars (PSR)

Primary Surveillance Radars are critical for asserting airspace sovereignty. Unlike secondary radars that rely on aircraft transponders, PSRs detect flying objects without cooperation from the target, making them essential for:

• Monitoring unregistered or potentially hostile aircraft.
• Securing the airspace during emergencies or unrest.
• Enhancing national air defence and integration with military authorities.

Strategic PSR installation in key locations such as Khartoum, El-Obeid, Port Sudan, Dongola, and Nyala should be prioritized in the next phase.

4. Need for advanced agreements with equipment manufacturers

It would be a strategic mistake to wait until the end of the war to initiate negotiations with manufacturers of navigation and radar equipment. These companies operate with long production timelines, and delaying engagement will lead to:

• Losing Sudan’s priority in the global supply chain.
• Competing with other post-conflict or recovering countries for limited resources.
• Delayed implementation of airspace reopening for months post-conflict.

Therefore, it is wise to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) or Letters of Intent (LoIs) now with reputable manufacturers to:

• Secure early production slots.
• Define specifications.
• Enable technical planning and pre-installation readiness.

5. Evaluating the Partial Reopening in Eastern Sudan

The partial reopening of airspace over eastern Sudan (around Port Sudan) represents a practical field experiment, but it requires institutional evaluation to identify both:

• Positives, such as limited resumption of flights and controlled overflight revenue.
• Negatives, such as limited radar coverage and incomplete surveillance capacity.

This evaluation should also trigger a reassessment of Sudan’s airspace structure. The current division into “North” and “South” sectors is outdated. Instead, a vertical division is recommended:

• Upper Airspace (FL245 and above): for long-haul and international traffic.
• Lower Airspace (FL245 and below): for domestic and short-range flights.

This model aligns with modern airspace management strategies and facilitates more flexible traffic flow management, especially in emergency scenarios.

6. A Phased National Plan for Reopening Airspace
   

It is unrealistic to expect a full and immediate reopening of airspace. Instead, the process should be phased and well-coordinated, beginning with humanitarian corridors, followed by limited commercial routes, and expanding based on safety assessments. This requires:

• Issuing accurate and timely NOTAMs.
• Updating aeronautical information publications (AIPs).
• Coordinating with neighbouring countries and regional control centres.

 A chance to restore sovereignty and rebuild international confidence

Reopening Sudanese airspace is not merely an operational necessity—it is a symbol of the return of Sudan’s statehood and global standing. For this effort to succeed, technical preparation, institutional planning, and logistical arrangements must begin now, not after the conflict ends.

Readiness is built during uncertainty, not after it. Those who fail to prepare during hardship will not be ready when opportunity arises.