Chinese-built air traffic mgt system in South Sudan nears completion

An Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) being put up by China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) Limited to help South Sudan fully manage and control its airspace is nearing completion.

Athuai Deng Akok, a local employee working with CHEC, said that upon completion of the project, Juba would be able to manage domestic and international civil aviation aircraft for the first time.

According to Deng, the ATMS project that commenced in June 2020 is a cooperation project between the South Sudan and Chinese government that includes training of South Sudanese technicians to prepare them for management of the air space by 2023.

“In the initial stage of operation, Chinese and South Sudanese personnel will work together, and Chinese personnel will provide on-job training for South Sudanese employees during the process,” Deng told Xinhua in Juba.

The project also consists of the construction of Juba ATMS center, new Air Traffic control tower and operation building, surveillance system, navigation system, communication system, and the civil engineering and supporting facilities required by the equipment such as meteorological facilities, calibration flight test, and personnel training.

“All types of equipment are consistent with the civil aviation management equipment of all countries in the world.

“The goal of interconnection with all countries will be achieved after completion,” Deng said.

Wu Ge, the CHEC chief engineer of ATMS project, said the company had managed to complete half of the work regardless of Coronavirus-related hitches.

“Every part of the project has been progressing steadily and around half of the work has been completed.

“The concrete structure of the Juba ATMS center was completed last year,” said Wu.

The ATMS equipment, according to him, is being manufactured and will be shipped to South Sudan later this year.

The project is also expected to boost non-oil revenue collection, in addition to contributing to the economic and social development of the world’s youngest country.

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Xie Naisi, the marketing officer of CHEC in South Sudan, said the company had been involved in social responsibility activities that “have seen them support local communities”.

He revealed the donation of some 20,000 sandbags and three water pumps to the Panyagor community for flood prevention and five tons of rice including three tons of cornmeal.

Xie added that the company also drilled two wells in Wau communities.

“We will keep on making contributions to better the lives of local people,” he said. (Xinhua/NAN)