[ACCI-CAVIE] The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and the Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) SOC Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today, 12 October 2021 – to improve cooperation between the two entities.

The MOU aims to strengthen the dynamic, integrated management of air traffic and airspace with specific reference to the operational and technological developments and alignment to international requirements in aviation. Furthermore, according to Val Munsami, SANSA CEO, the partnership is very critical to both parties. He added that SANSA were very excited about the signing.

While SANSA and ATNS pursue different goals, some intersect, necessitating the cooperation and subsequent MOU. These involve the use of Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS), magnetic variation, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), etc. Dumisani Sangweni, CEO of ATNS, shared similar sentiments with the SANSA CEO. He commented that the signature marked a significant milestone in taking their partnership to the next level.

The signature was virtual due to the restriction of movements resulting from the pandemic. In addition, the next renewal will be in 2026, five years from now.

ATNS provides air traffic, navigation, training and associated services within South Africa and a large part of the Southern Indian and the Atlantic Ocean, comprising approximately 10% of the world’s airspace. ATNS’s services extend beyond air traffic control services into providing important aeronautical information for all flight planning purposes. Their other services include search and rescue coordination and maintenance of reliable navigation infrastructure.

By Joshua Faleti