Towards a single African Airspace
Johannesburg, South Africa – 5 June 2019. Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) SOC Ltd and L’Agence pour la Sécurité de la Navigation Aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar (ASECNA), met for the first time on South African soil – to review work done by a joint Technical Committee, set up soon-after a ground-breaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties was signed early last year. This meeting paves the way for a solid and single airspace management in Africa. It took place a few days ago in Kempton Park, near OR Tambo International Airport.
The ASECNA delegation was led by its Director General (DG), Mohamed Moussa.
The MoU provides for cooperation in air navigation-related services. It further formalizes the interconnectivity between ATNS SADC Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and NAFISAT networks managed by ATNS in Southern, Eastern and North Africa and ASECNA’s AFISNET (the ASECNA VSAT network in West Africa) networks). The MoU also makes provision for the exchange of training programs and personnel, thereby sharing much-need expertise and experience.
“Here we are now – working hand-in-hand, towards safer African skies and an integrated airspace” said an elated ATNS CEO (Interim) Thomas Kgokolo – celebrating yet another momentous milestone in ATNS’s twenty-five (25) years history.
Kgokolo further stated that “as an Air Navigations Service Provider, we invest our resources wisely – in air safety, research and development to name but a few. We do that with due consideration, especially to other air navigation agencies in Africa and elsewhere. ASECNA is no exception. We are aware of the rapid technological advancements within the aviation industry. When we do acquire and deploy such technolgy, our counterparts in the region are roped in and become our strategic and key partners”.
He further explained that ATNS “follows efficient air navigation services practices as prescribed by global aviation bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO)”.
“This is an enormous milestone for African aviation. This is indeed the Africa we want” said Mohamed Moussa, ASECNA DG, who is the first ever high-ranking ASECNA official to visit South Africa.
