On Friday 16 June, Operations Manager John Feil and Partnership Manager Jaap de With flew with MAF to Torit to see the progress on a new project to improve safety and security at the airstrip with the help of the local Ministry of Transport, Roads and Bridges.
Torit airstrip is at the heart of community life, criss-crossed by pathways which are used as shortcuts by school children, livestock, motorbikes. The airstrip is one of the busiest outside Juba, with MAF planes and other operators landing there several times a week to serve the town’s home 58,644 people, local government, and a range of NGOs .[1]
A new initiative is being put in place to address safety concerns following several recent incidents with people and livestock crossing the runway as aircraft are landing. The project led by MAF South Sudan Operations Manager John Feil aims to tackling this problem thorough a two-pronged approach to secure the airstrip whilst also raising awareness within the local community about the risks of crossing the runway during the day.
Securing Torit Airstrip
‘We have initiated a project to repair and make good the perimeter fencing at key points where established pathways allow unauthorised and uncontrolled access to the runway. In addition to this we plan to build guard point shelters at the runway midpoint and threshold of runway the runway,’ John says, explaining the scope of the project.
To ensure the project’s success, MAF is partnering with local government and the community of Torit. ‘The project to is being delivered in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport, Roads and Bridges (EES), and co-ordinated by EES Director Norman Juma with work being carried out by the airport and fire brigade staff,’ John explains.
We were given a tour of the perimeter where good progress has been made to repair the fencing and prevent access onto the airstrip.
Landing Hazards
A Cessna Caravans lands at an average groundspeed of 85 miles an hour before slowing to a stop. Planes landing in Torit often have to contend with more than just weather as, MAF South Sudan Chief Pilot Chris explains:
‘Landing in Torit is a constant challenge for our pilots. There are at least four or five main shortcuts crossing the runway at different points along the length. You’re looking out for birds, motorcycles, kids, and livestock crossing the runway. Once or twice a week one of our pilots will have to do a go around due to obstructions on the runway. Kids running across get frighteningly close to the plane, almost like they’re playing chicken at times. They are used to seeing planes but at the same time they are really not aware of the danger of a speeding aircraft,’ Chris reflects.
The new security measures will make an extreme difference to the safety of the runway as the pilots will no longer have to contend with vehicles and motorcycles driving up and down the runway without looking
Improving Airstrip Awareness
On Friday 16 June, John Feil and Jaap de With visited to see the project’s progress. They were impressed with what they saw. ‘During our visit we were given a tour of the perimeter where good progress has been made to repair the fencing and prevent access onto the airstrip by communities. We also visited Airport View Primary School, located close to the runway’s perimeter, where we talked to the school’s 300 students to raise awareness of the risk of crossing the runway,’ John explains.
It is the second time John has visited the school, to drive home an important safety message. Last year John visited Airport View Primary School along with Flight Follower Grace Toby. They delivered a lesson entitled Stop, Look, Listen - teaching the children to stop and look for signs of an oncoming aircraft, listen out for the sounds of its approach, and only proceed across the airstrip if it is safe to do so.
‘The headmaster will continue to communicate this message to the school community. The message has also been communicated on local Torit radio by Norman Juma,’ John explains.
We visited Airport View Primary School, located close to the runway’s perimeter, where we talked to the school’s 300 students to raise awareness of the risk of crossing the runway
Safety Improvements
It is hoped that the new security measures will have a significant impact on the safety of the airstrip. Chief Pilot Chris is hopeful that pilots landing in Torit will be much safer going forwards. ‘The new security measures will make an extreme difference to the safety of the runway as the pilots will no longer have to contend with vehicles and motorcycles driving up and down the runway without looking,’ Chris says.
John hopes the fence and ongoing security work will lead to permanent improvements in the airstrip’s operability. ‘There is significant momentum to this project, not just with the fence repair but with community communication and engagement,’ he concludes.
[1] https://www.csrf-southsudan.org/county_profile/torit/
Landing in Torit is a constant challenge for our pilots. There are at least four or five main shortcuts crossing the runway at different points along the length. You’re looking out for birds, motorcycles, kids, and livestock crossing the runway.
Story by Jenny Davies