10% of the world air space and that word diversity should never be allowed anywhere in a professional field where safety and lives come first.
ATNS is the abbreviation for Air Traffic Navigation Systems which in a nutshell make sure the taking off and landing procedures via the aircraft flight instrument panels are up to date ad functioning. ATNS are also responsible for handling air traffic control. I have raised and discussed the failings of ATNS in a previous post a few months ago yet nothing has changed. If this is not fixed within 3 weeks which seems impossible then there is huge problems. This directly affects tourism and cargo which will impact the economy.
Recently when flying out of OR Tambo which is Johannesburg's Airport we experienced a good 30 minutes of delays and thought nothing of this at the time. You would have thought this is a busy airport, but in reality only a handful of international flights depart in the evening time along with a few local flights. The problem with delays lies firmly with the ATNS and how it is being managed or rather mismanaged.
In roughly 3 weeks time on April 10th 31 ATNS procedures expire which affect all air craft flying in and out of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban being the main flight hubs. The big concern is what happens then when all the flight paths are out of date and pilots would be navigating by eye sight. Severe weather conditions could make flying an air craft unsafe especially when there is poor visibility.
Creecy has now confirmed a final extension to Thursday, 10 April 2025. If compliance is not achieved by that date, major airports, airlines, staff, and passengers will face significant operational and safety risks.
Creecy is the Minster of Transport.
The disruptions and ramifications are not a good read when you hear what another air line has experienced whilst servicing other smaller airports who have had their procedures expire last year already.
Between July and October last year one airline reported 3892 delayed flights,77 cancellations ad 12 diverted flights which in real time and money equates to 63 days of flight time lost. For any airline this would be catastrophic as they operate on tight margins. The cost of placing passengers in a hotel and missed connecting flights doesn't just impact this airline, but others as well.
Local flights is not the big worry however as how are the international airlines going to accept their planes landing without the use of onboard navigational instruments? It may be ok flying out, but you can never tell what conditions will be like when landing.
The consumer always gets screwed as there must be a work around that will bypass the ATNS or this story would be head line news. I am guessing that is the case otherwise no international flights will be coming to SA as tis breaks every safety book ad FAA regulations. There will be additional costs because the ATNS even though is not supplying the service will still expect to be paid. Ticket prices will increase as this is the only feasible solution. The ATNS receives in the region of R21 billion per year ($1.2 billion) and you have to ask the question what are they spending this money on if everything is outdated and expired.
The CEO of ATNS has bee suspended on full pay and was the same useless individual who was in charge of the Ports in SA. She has ruined two projects and no doubt will be given another lucrative role.