Niël Terblanché
The Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has launched a three-week aeronautical surveying and data management training course to improve aviation data systems and align operations with international safety standards.
The training began on Monday at the NCAA headquarters in Windhoek.
It is being held in partnership with United Aviation Technology Services (United ATS), whose instructors travelled from Egypt to conduct the sessions.
NCAA executive director Toska Sem said the programme is critical as Namibia’s aviation sector continues to evolve.
She stressed the importance of accurate and timely data for safe and efficient air navigation.
“This training comes at a crucial time when our aviation industry is evolving rapidly. The need for a standardised geodetic reference system, particularly the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84), cannot be overstated. Accurate data underpins everything from airport positioning to flight procedure design,” she said.
Sem said the NCAA and the Namibian Airports Company (NAC) must prioritise the timely validation and publication of aeronautical data. She warned that delays could raise safety concerns at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“Delays in data validation and publication have become a haven to attract Significant Safety Concerns (SSCs), particularly for expired or unreviewed Instrument Flight Procedures,” said Sem.
The course is aimed at strengthening institutional knowledge in geodetic surveying, data integrity, and aeronautical information management. Participants from across Namibia’s aviation sector are attending the training.
Sem thanked the United ATS instructors for their support and said the course forms part of NCAA’s broader commitment to improving oversight and data governance in Namibia’s airspace.
The training is scheduled to conclude in early July.
