An integrated African airspace becomes reality

Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) and L’Agence pour la Sécurité de la Navigation Aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar (ASECNA), met for the first time on South African to review work done by a joint technical committee, set up soon-after a ground-breaking MoU between the two parties was signed early last year.
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This meeting paves the way for a solid and single airspace management in Africa.  

The ASECNA delegation was led by its Director General (DG), Mohamed Moussa.

The MoU provides for cooperation in air navigation-related services.  It further formalises 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 working hand-in-hand, towards safer African skies and an integrated airspace” said ATNS CEO (Interim) Thomas Kgokolo.

Kgokolo added: “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.”