A military coup is underway in Sudan – the second since late September. Troops have been deployed throughout Khartoum and the military chief has dissolved the transitional government.

HSSK/Khartoum Airport is closed and all flights have been suspended (though no new Notams have been issued). Sudan’s CAA has told the media that the airport will reopen on Wednesday 27 Oct at 4pm local time (1400 GMT).

Phone and internet networks have been blocked making it hard to contact local agents for situation updates. However, security forces clashed with anti-coup protestors on Oct 25 & 26, and there are additional demonstrations and roadblocks planned over the coming days across Sudan.

The US Embassy in Sudan issued a security alert on Oct 26 advising US citizens not to travel to the embassy or the airport. “When commercial flights are confirmed to be departing, an alert will be released” it said.

Overflight impact

HSSS/Khartoum FIR covers the whole airspace. Overflights are still taking place but there have been reports of delays due to thirty-minute separation being applied in the HSSS/Khartoum FIR. A coup in 2019 saw the airspace close for 24 hours.

There is no immediate known risk to overflight safety due to the military takeover.

However, Khartoum is a main en-route alternate for this part of Africa. With the security situation on the ground now unpredictable here, there is a general risk for overflights in terms of limited alternative diversion options, given that there are several high risk airspaces including Libya, South Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia (Tigray region) in the vicinity.

Airspace warnings

There is only one international airspace warning (from France) which recommends overflights above FL260 for the far southern and western edges of the country where it borders South Sudan. The risk is, in part, due to the lack of ATC services and standards below FL245 in South Sudan. Further information on this is available on our Safeairspace page.

For some more background info on the airspace safety concerns for Sudan and South Sudan, you can read our January 2021 update here.

Generally, our SafeAirspace risk assessments focus on risk due to conflict, and the anti-aircraft weaponry that is often a result of said conflicts. But today a new risk alert popped up for South Sudan.

So this is a brief summary on the history of airspace safety concerns for Sudan and South Sudan, and the new risk that has been highlighted specifically for South Sudan.

Where are we talking about?

South Sudan is a landlocked country in East-Central Africa, bordered by Sudan, Ethiopia, the DRC, the CAR, Uganda and Kenya. The main airport for South Sudan is HSSJ/Juba.

So it’s South Sudan, not just Sudan?

Yep, there are two Sudan’s – Sudan and South Sudan. South Sudan is officially known as the Republic of South Sudan, whilst Sudan (North Sudan) is ‘just’ Sudan.

Sudan’s primary airport is HSSS/Khartoum

They were the same country until 2011 when they separated following decades of civil war. South Sudan became the world’s newest nation.

Two separate Sudans, three separate issues

Following five years of civil war in South Sudan, a ceasefire has largely held since Sept 2018. Though there has been a significant reduction in violence since then, the political and security situation remains volatile.

Sudan, on the other hand, (which borders South Sudan, the Central African Republic and Chad), has had its own conflict. In 2019 they temporarily closed all their airspace following a military coup which ousted their longtime president Omar al-Bashir from power. This came after months of protests against his rule.

Clashes between the army and former security agents resulted in violence and gunfire in the streets, and the temporary closure of HSSS/Khartoum airport in 2020, but this was brought under control relatively quickly.

There are also issues in bordering Ethiopia and Eritrea, in the Tigray region, which resulted in the closure of some airspace and airways by the Ethiopian and Sudanese CAA.

What warnings are in place due to conflict?

South Sudan – Although the situation has improved since Sept 2018, several countries (the UK, France and Germany) still advise against overflying South Sudan below FL250/260 due to the risk posed by anti-aircraft weaponry. The US published a similar warning but rescinded it in Aug 2019.

Sudan – Only has one official warning in place, from the French authorities. This recommends against overflights below FL260 in the far Southern and Western regions.

But there is a new warning for South Sudan?

Yes, there is. And it isn’t conflict related.

ICAO released a letter on January 20th regarding the safety of Civil aircraft in the Khartoum FIR over South Sudan.

The raised ‘grave concerns’ for the safety of International air traffic operating below FL245, and operating into and out of HSSJ/Juba international airport.

The concerns relate to the disruption of air traffic services and the lack of contingency arraignments in place. They warn about the lack of suitably qualified air traffic control personnel, the lack of information being shared on unserviceable or withdrawn navigation equipment, and inadequate air-ground communications.

A quick search on Notams for Khartoum FIR and Juba airport only brought up info on the opening of airspace following Covid restrictions.

The full warning from ICAO can be read here.

In summary

• Both Sudan and South Sudan are considered Level 2: Danger Exists regions because of ongoing conflicts.
• South Sudan now poses a separate risk due lack of aviation infrastructure and lack of information being promulgated (through Notams) on this.
• Caution recommended if operating below FL245 in South Sudanese airspace, or if you are operating into HSSJ/Juba airport.

Sudan airspace reopened at 1200Z on Apr 12, having been closed for 24hrs following a military coup.

So the HSSS FIR is now once again open for overflights. As for flights to HSSS/Khartoum Airport, all the airlines who were forced to cancel flights during the airspace closure have now resumed operations, and Opsgroup members have reported receiving landing permissions from the authorities again. Local handlers have told us: “The airport is now functioning normally with more security support”.

The military has declared a three month state of emergency, and has deployed soldiers to secure key sites around Khartoum, with armoured vehicles and tanks parked in the streets. Protests against the new military government are still ongoing, although there have not been many reports of any violence. A nightly curfew was introduced on 11 APR for Khartoum between the hours of 10pm and 4am, but this was later lifted.

In response to the military coup, the U.S. has now issued an updated Travel Advisory for Sudan and raised its level of advice from “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” to “Level 4: Do Not Travel.”

Despite all this, still only one international airspace warning exists for Sudan, which was issued by France last year and modified in Jan 2019, recommending overflight above FL200 in the country’s southern edge (where Sudan borders with South Sudan) and western edge (where Sudan borders with Central African Republic and Chad). France’s warning for South Sudan remains the same: overflights should be at FL240 or above. More info at Safeairspace.

Kanlaon Volcano Eruption 28DEC The Kanlaon Volcano in the Philippines erupted on 27DEC, with an initial ASHTAM issued up to FL260. Extreme caution advised for airways B472, B473, and W7. You can get the latest updates through the Tokyo VAAC.

Updated Colombia Permit requirements 22DEC For Non-Commercial aircraft, ie. Ferry flights, General Aviation – authorisation is required only if stopping in Colombia longer than 48 hours, or operating to more than 1 Colombian Airport. Updated list of document requirements in AIP Supp 22/15 issued 22DEC.

New Years closures. Check opening times carefully during the next week, as many major airports and FBO’s have closures, especially on 31DEC/01JAN.

Kxxx/USA Scattered thunderstorms, some of which will be strong to severe, will move east across Kentucky, Tennessee, eastern Mississippi, Alabama, western Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. Heavy rain will once again trigger flash flooding over portions of the South. Airports in the risk area include KATL/Atlanta, KBNA/Nashville, KMEM/Memphis, KCHA/Chattanooga, KBHM/Birmingham, KMOB/Mobile and KLEX/Lexington.

FYWH/Windhoek, Namibia has new opening hours from 23DEC, 0700-2000LT Daily.

HSSS/Khartoum, Sudan has no Jet A1 available to Ad-hoc operations between 27DEC and 05JAN. Carry return fuel or choose another tech stop.

MUFH/Havana FIR, Cuba Airspace restrictions in place 23DEC-31DEC due to staff shortages, airways UB760 and UL210 are northbound only, and between 1400-0100Z daily, all aircraft will be spaced 25nm apart through the Havana FIR, regardless of altitude.

OAKB/Kabul, Afghanistan a car bomb detonated near Kabul International Airport at approximately 0800 local time (0330 UTC) today.Taliban militants took responsibility for the attack.

UIBB/Bratsk continues to have fuel supply issues, fuel limitation extended to 12JAN

LSZH/Zurich has parking issues for Private flights, the Airport Company will generally only accept 6 hours ground time. Extended stays will require a reposition to another airport, limitation until 06JAN.

Space Weather/Polar Ops 55% risk of R1-R2 Minor to Moderate Radio Blackout risk predicted through Dec 30th. For the most up to date information please see the NOAA Space Weather Dashboard for Aviation.

LTFJ/Istanbul A Kurdish militant group has claimed responsibility for an attack at Istanbul’s second airport that killed 1 person, and threatened more assaults.

FAA/North Atlantic Aircraft operators crossing the North Atlantic have been required to include the aircraft registration and six-character hexadecimal code that is the aircraft’s address in Item 18 of their ICAO flight plans. However, an FAA review of flight plans filed during a one week period revealed that many operators were not meeting this requirement. Therefore, the agency has issued Information for Operators (InFO) 15015, which emphasizes the importance of providing the required information in the proper format.

Vxxx/India Signaling a major shift in granting air traffic rights, the government is looking at restricting the number of landing points for overseas airlines irrespective of their seat entitlements.A senior Civil Aviation Ministry official said it was looking at restricting the ports of call given to foreign airlines under bilateral rights, while remaining flexible on seat entitlements.

VAJB/Jabalpur The Aviation regulator DGCA has suspended the license of Jabalpur airport following an incident early this month, in which a herd of wild boars marched onto the runway during the taxiing of a commercial aircraft. Following suspension of its license, no flight operations can take place from Jabalpur airport, sources said adding that the AAI has been told to remove deficiencies including proper fencing of the operational area.

RKxx/South Korea South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare has formally declared an end to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) health threat on December 23. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, its decision follows World Health Organization. MERS was first confirmed in South Korea on 20MAY, and the last fatality from MERS-related complications in the country occurred on 25NOV.