New ATC training school attracts airforce cadets
Date: 10 May 2011
By Dean Wingrin
The South African Air Force is to send trainee Air Traffic Control (ATC) students to a new training facility recently opened by 43 Air School in the Eastern Cape.
43 Air School is a civilian Air Training Organization, the largest in Africa and is based at Port Alfred. The school officially opened its state of the art ATC Training Centre on the 6th of May 2011.
CEO Attie Niemann said during his address that 43 Air School is a global leading player in aviation training. He highlighted that the countries only solution to its aviation challenges was for Government and the private sector to partner in facing the industries challenging aircrew and ATC shortages.
The school now operates the only 360° Aerodrome Simulator in Africa which was designed and manufactured locally by Barlog Management Systems and certified by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) on 31 March 2011.
Attending the opening, Chief of the South African Air Force, Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano, announced that the SAAF have selected 43 Air School as a preferred training partner and that it would be sending ATC students to train at 43 Air Schools new facility.
The first ATC training course using the state-of-the-art device is currently underway and it is believed that the airforce will send four ATC Cadets to the school.
