ATNS Milestones
Celebrating over 30 years of safer African skies
On 21 July this year ATNS will celebrate its 30th Birthday! To commemorate this occasion, we have compiled all the major milestones from our founding in 1993 to the present year. We trust you’ll enjoy this trip down memory lane.
2018 to present
| 2018 | Hosting of SATFIT |
| ATA Premier Circle Award | |
| NAFISAT Agreement | |
| 2021 | ATNS/SANSA MoU (revised and signed) |
2013 to 2017
| 2013 | ATNS launched the Aeronautical Management Development Programme (AMDP) – the first of its kind in Africa – in conjunction with the University of the Witwatersrand Business School |
| ATA awarded IATA Worldwide Top Regional Training Partner | |
| In conjunction with the University of the Witwatersrand Business School, ATNS launched the Aeronautical Management Development Programme (AMDP) – the first of its kind in Africa | |
| The ATA awarded IATA Worldwide Top Regional Training Partner | |
| 2014 | ATNS and its ASIOACG partners are voted and awarded the prestigious Best Service Provider Award at Jane’s annual ATC Awards Ceremony, held in Spain |
| The ATA awarded IATA Worldwide Top Regional Training Partner | |
| 2015 | The ATNS Aviation Training Academy receives the IATA Worldwide Top Regional Training Partner Award for a fifth consecutive year |
| The Academy becomes an ICAO Regional Training Centre of Excellence | |
| Aireon and South Africa’s Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) signs a Regional Commercialization Agreement to jointly develop the uses of space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data throughout the Southern part of the African continent | |
| 2016 | The ATNS Aviation Training Academy is designated as an IATA Premier Circle member |
| 2017 | ATNS hosts the 7th International Federation of Air Traffic Safety Electronics Associations (IFATSEA) Africa Region meeting and Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEP) workshop |
| ATNS is certified as a Top Employer (#TECD18) out of 200 companies from 33 African countries | |
| ATNS and the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on a national multi-static passive radar facility |
2008 to 2012
| 2008 | A first for ATNS in the following: CISM training course, ATNS Safety Week, participation in CANSO safety culture working group |
| 2009 | Control tower construction at King Shaka International Airport |
| 2010 | The Central Airspace Management Unit (CAMU) Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) tool is implemented |
| 2011 | Installation and commissioning of the Total Control 3D aerodrome control simulator |
| ATA awarded IATA Worldwide Top Regional Training Partner | |
| 2012 | Inauguration of NAFISAT Master Back-up Terminal in Uganda |
| Launch of the ground-breaking ATNS AVI AFRIQUE Africa Aviation Innovation Summit | |
| ATA awarded IATA Worldwide Top Regional Training Partner |
2003 to 2007
| 2003 | Acceptance of main system at Johannesburg control centre (SAAATS Project) |
| 2004 | Completion of SAAATS Project |
| 2005 | Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) implementation |
| Proposed SADC VSAT satellite communication upgrade | |
| 2006 | Proposed SADC Upper Airspace Control Centre (UACC) implementation |
| 2007 | Launch of ATNS’s Safety Management System (SMS) |
1998 to 2002
| 1998 | ISO accreditation |
| 1999 | Satellite surveillance and communication system (ADS/CPDLC) installation for Indian Ocean area |
| New high frequency radio system installed | |
| 2000 | Project Speakeasy complete |
| Contract for Aeronautical Surveying awarded to ATNS by the FAA | |
| Aviation Training Academy established through ATNS College partnerships with Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) | |
| 2001 | Installation of 3D Air Traffic Control simulator at ATNS’s Aviation Training Academy |
| 2002 | Construction begins on the South African Advanced Air Traffic System (SAAATS) |
1993 to 1997
| 1993 | Founding of ATNS |
| 1995 | The founding of the ATNS college to provide air traffic and navigation related training |
| Start of Project Pronav to upgrade and extend terrestrial navigation systems | |
| 1996 | Upgrade of Durban International and Port Elizabeth control towers |
| 1997 | Completion of Project Pronav |