This is the first part of an article by Ibrahim Adlan on the Sudanese air traffic controller’s identity crisis and the emergence of the “comprehensive air traffic controller” concept. It describes a shift from procedural control to radar, and links changes in airspace to a crisis of professional identity. The author says every profession has an identity that protects it, a distinct character, and a career path that gives its members belonging and stability. The article also frames the Sudanese controller’s situation amid conflict in terms of operational risks, psychological erosion, and entitlements.