The state of South Africa’s air traffic system has been brought into question, with many high-risk findings left unaddressed and the suspension of numerous instrument flight procedures (IFPs) affecting regional air connectivity and raising concerns about the country’s capacity to uphold aviation safety standards.
- ATNS, the air traffic control agency responsible for maintaining and submitting these procedures for validation, is struggling to keep planes in South African skies.
- The agency is facing significant challenges, including regulatory lapses, skills shortages, and unmaintained infrastructure, leading to delays and cancellations at airports across the country.
Key Statistics
| Key Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of instrument flight procedures suspended | 326 |
| Number of airports affected | Multiple |
| Number of new air traffic controllers recruited | 10 |
The Impact on Air Travel
The suspension of IFPs has significant implications for air travel, with morning cancellations, flight delays, and limited operational windows in low-visibility conditions causing inconvenience to passengers.
- Airports without approved IFPs are not able to provide navigation services, leading to cancellations and delays.
- Regional airports are particularly affected, as flights can only be made to and from these destinations when there are clear visual conditions.
ATNS’s Response
ATNS has acknowledged the crisis and pledged to prioritize the restoration of IFPs at the remaining airports, but has not issued a definitive timeline.
- ATNS has confirmed the recent recruitment of 10 new air traffic controllers, suggesting an ongoing effort to rebuild internal capacity following skills shortages.
- The agency has also acknowledged the need for system upgrades and has committed to implementing remedial measures on all high-risk findings.
Stakeholder Reactions
The aviation industry has expressed concerns about the situation, with airlines and aviation stakeholders condemning the operational conditions.
- Airlines Association of Southern Africa (Aasa) CEO Aaron Munetsi has called the operational conditions untenable.
- FlySafair’s Elmar Conradie has attributed flight cancellations at King Phalo Airport to ATNS mismanagement.
Conclusion
The South African government must take immediate action to address the crisis in the air traffic system, ensuring the safety of passengers and air traffic personnel. “There is a process to implement remedial measures on all high-risk findings, which was concluded by the end of February, and medium-risk events will be attended to by the end of March,” said Transport Minister Barbara Creecy during a media briefing.
