"The level of aviation safety in Cypriot airspace remains exceptionally high."
The Department of Civil Aviation emphasized this in a written statement, in response to claims made by the Pan-Cyprian Air Traffic Controllers’ Union that an air accident was narrowly averted between a civilian aircraft and a Turkish drone that had violated the Nicosia FIR.
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The Department notes that “the presence and activities of Turkish aircraft in the airspace of the Republic of Cyprus (Nicosia FIR) is a long-standing and recurring operational reality, which air traffic control is called upon to manage on an almost daily basis.”
“This is therefore not an unprecedented or unpredictable operational phenomenon. It is therefore important to distinguish between the existence of a recurring operational phenomenon and the actual state of aviation safety.”
As noted, “the problems caused by Turkey in Cypriot airspace—whether the illegal operation of the Tymbou airport and interference with flights, or through military aircraft flights, are well known and are being continuously managed, requiring increased vigilance in order to maintain flight safety standards.”
“The timely identification and effective management of such situations by personnel is precisely an indication of the effectiveness of the air traffic control system. In the specific incident reported in the media, the staff’s continuous monitoring and operational vigilance enabled the timely identification of the potential convergence of flight paths and the implementation of the necessary measures.”
The statement concludes that “safety remains the top priority of the relevant agencies, and operational personnel have the training, experience, and procedures necessary to safely manage even particularly challenging situations.”
