Civil aviation authority says Turkish aircraft presence is recurring operational issue

Nicosia, Cyprus. The civil aviation authority said on Thursday that the presence of Turkish aircraft in Cypriot airspace is a longstanding and recurring operational fact, following concerns raised by the air traffic controllers’ union over flight safety.

It said controllers are required to manage Turkish aircraft in Cypriot airspace on an almost daily basis and that safety remains the priority.

Operational management

The authority said issues such as the actions taken by air traffic controllers to prevent a British Tui Airways Boeing 737 passenger jet and a Turkish air force Airbus A400M military transport aircraft from flying too close together were neither unprecedented nor unforeseen.

It said it was important to distinguish between the existence of a recurring operational phenomenon and the actual aviation safety situation.

“The problems caused by Turkey in Cypriot airspace, whether the illegal operation of Tymbou airport and the interference with flights, or with military aircraft flights, are known and continuously managed, requiring increased vigilance in order to maintain the requisite level of flight safety,” it said.

The authority added that the timely recognition and effective management of such situations by personnel demonstrated the effectiveness of the air traffic control system.

Airspace dispute

The Cyprus air traffic controllers’ union had earlier warned that flight safety in and around the island is affected by Turkish aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles in the region.

Airspace in and around Cyprus is disputed. The Turkish Cypriot authorities operate their own air traffic control system from northern Nicosia, while the Republic of Cyprus’ civil aviation authority claims responsibility for the airspace covering the entire island and its vicinity.

The authority said operational personnel have the training, experience and procedures required to safely manage particularly demanding situations.

Tymbou airport and previous allegations

Turkish Cypriots have operated Tymbou (Ercan) airport as a passenger airport since 1975, except for a 20-month period between 2002 and 2004 when it was closed for renovations and Lefkoniko airbase was used. The Republic of Cyprus considers the airport’s operation illegal.

The authority’s reference to interference related to allegations made in June, when the Republic of Cyprus accused Turkish Cypriot authorities of interfering with communications between air traffic control and aircraft carrying ministers from Greece, France and the Netherlands to Nicosia for a summit of EU defence ministers.