Sudan lifts ban imposed on Russian planes

July 9, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese president mandated the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to authorize banned Russian planes to operate once they meet the safety requirements.

After a crash of Ilyushin 76 charted by a private company near Khartoum Airport, president Omer Hassan al-Bashir on June 30 issued a decree relieving the chief of the CAA and banned all Russian made planes from operation.

Al- Bashir directed yesterday the CAA to enforce the presidential decision to ban the Russian Antonov and Ilyushin and to authorize planes that meet required safety standards.

The CAA General Manager, Ibrahim Abdullah, immediately after receiving the authorization ordered the competent body to review all the Russian aircraft concerned by the presidential and to re-examine it in order to allow the suitable aircraft to operate, the official SUNA reported.

Russian airplanes like the Antonov constitute the dominant part of planes operating in the air transport for the United Nations or the private sector. The presidential decision to ground this plane raised many questions over alternative solutions.

Sudanese officials said they have no other alternative as far as the US sanctions are imposed on Sudan, but Washington said that aircraft spare parts are exempted from the sanctions.

(ST)