Air Traffic and Navigation Services (SOC) has signed an important air traffic management (ATM) contract with the Namibian Directorate of Civil Aviation (NDCA).

In terms of the agreement, ATNS will provide the necessary expertise and knowledge to assist NDCA to migrate from the traditional manual aeronautical information system (AIS) to an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) compliant automated aeronautical information management (AIM) service.

ATNS CEO Thabani Mthiyane says future technologies in air navigation require the availability of and timely exchange of accurate and quality assured digital aeronautical information within air traffic systems. "One of ICAO’s requirements, as defined in the ICAO AIS / AIM Transition Roadmap, is the creation of a centralised repository for aeronautical information. Sharing of this information will be expanded to other aviation entities in Africa, using the appropriate exchange model," concludes Mthiyane.

The agreement will commence at the beginning of April 2016 and ensue for a period of seven years ending in 2023.