Air traffic controllers ‘dangerously overworked’

FAILURE to address the working conditions of the country’s air traffic controllers and to upgrade avionics systems could soon jeopardise Namibia’s air safety.

The Namibian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (Namatca) said yesterday that its members were at the end of their tether in pushing for better treatment and better equipment. “Safety is not jeopardised at this stage but if nothing is going to change and more controllers resign, it could lead to those remaining behind having to work longer hours,” a source told The Namibian yesterday.Their frustration comes in the wake of the resignation of yet another air traffic controller to take up a better post in the Middle East – meaning that the existing pool is getting smaller and the work demands greater.At least 12 air traffic controllers have quit since 1999 largely because of poor salaries and long working hours.”Air traffic controllers have become increasingly disillusioned with their working conditions in Namibia,” the association said in a statement yesterday.”We are forced to work overtime and don’t have a social life.There is a lot of pressure.We tend to work excess hours when we are supposed to be resting,” Namatca president Harold Hange told The Namibian.The air traffic control profession is widely considered as one of the most stressful professions in the world.Hange said the current shortage meant that some air traffic controllers worked 24-hour shifts to ensure the safety of Namibia’s airspace.”Namatca is concerned that the Namibian Government will fail to fulfil its international obligation to ensure a safe and efficient air traffic system if the problems are not addressed immediately,” said the association.In 2002, the International Air Transport Association listed Namibian airspace as critically deficient as a result of staff shortages and a lack of adequate surveillance equipment.Following two mid-air collisions in Namibian airspace over the past eight years, reports indicated that these could have been avoided if the station at Hosea Kutako International Airport was fitted with radar.This equipment is said to cost about N$300 million.Hange said that the purchase of at least an approach radar with a range of 50 nautical miles would alleviate the burden of the most stressful part of their job – the landing and take-off of aircraft.Currently air traffic control stations at Keetmanshoop, Swakopmund, Katima Mulilo and Ondangwa only have one air traffic controller each and sometimes a station has to be shut down if staff shortages arise or they have to travel to Windhoek for a medical check-up.Last week the tower at Swakopmund was closed because of staff shortages.The control towers at Hosea Kutako International Airport have to be manned 24 hours a day.Air traffic controllers working in the Windhoek area also have to control mercy flights and inter-continental overflights at night as well as keep an eye on areas manned by outstations during the day.The Civil Aviation Directorate makes provision for 35 air traffic controllers to serve the country.At present about 32 positions are filled – but at least five are trainees while another two have only completed half their training, a source told The Namibian yesterday.It costs at least half a million dollars to send a candidate for training, and now Namibia appears to be losing trained personnel to better paying countries such as South Africa.Namatca said that it had pinned its hopes of better remuneration and working conditions on the establishment of a Civil Aviation Authority recommended by a presidential commission of enquiry into the affairs of the Directorate of Civil Aviation in 1997.But to date the agency has not been set up.”Air Traffic Controllers provide a professional service and are trying to ensure a safe sky under difficult conditions, yet they do not receive recognition for this,” Namatca said.Director of Civil Aviation Bethuel Mujetenga could not be reached for comment.”Safety is not jeopardised at this stage but if nothing is going to change and more controllers resign, it could lead to those remaining behind having to work longer hours,” a source told The Namibian yesterday.Their frustration comes in the wake of the resignation of yet another air traffic controller to take up a better post in the Middle East – meaning that the existing pool is getting smaller and the work demands greater.At least 12 air traffic controllers have quit since 1999 largely because of poor salaries and long working hours.”Air traffic controllers have become increasingly disillusioned with their working conditions in Namibia,” the association said in a statement yesterday.”We are forced to work overtime and don’t have a social life.There is a lot of pressure.We tend to work excess hours when we are supposed to be resting,” Namatca president Harold Hange told The Namibian.The air traffic control profession is widely considered as one of the most stressful professions in the world.Hange said the current shortage meant that some air traffic controllers worked 24-hour shifts to ensure the safety of Namibia’s airspace.”Namatca is concerned that the Namibian Government will fail to fulfil its international obligation to ensure a safe and efficient air traffic system if the problems are not addressed immediately,” said the association.In 2002, the International Air Transport Association listed Namibian airspace as critically deficient as a result of staff shortages and a lack of adequate surveillance equipment.Following two mid-air collisions in Namibian airspace over the past eight years, reports indicated that these could have been avoided if the station at Hosea Kutako International Airport was fitted with radar.This equipment is said to cost about N$300 million.Hange said that the purchase of at least an approach radar with a range of 50 nautical miles would alleviate the burden of the most stressful part of their job – the landing and take-off of aircraft.Currently air traffic control stations at Keetmanshoop, Swakopmund, Katima Mulilo and Ondangwa only have one air traffic controller each and sometimes a station has to be shut down if staff shortages arise or they have to travel to Windhoek for a medical check-up.Last week the tower at Swakopmund was closed because of staff shortages.The control towers at Hosea Kutako International Airport have to be manned 24 hours a day.Air traffic controllers working in the Windhoek area also have to control mercy flights and inter-continental overflights at night as well as keep an eye on areas manned by outstations during the day.The Civil Aviation Directorate makes provision for 35 air traffic controllers to serve the country.At present about 32 positions are filled – but at least five are trainees while another two have only completed half their training, a source told The Namibian yesterday.It costs at least half a million dollars to send a candidate for training, and now Namibia appears to be losing trained personnel to better paying countries such as South Africa.Namatca said that it had pinned its hopes of better remuneration and working conditions on the establishment of a Civil Aviation Authority recommended by a presidential commission of enquiry into the affairs of the Directorate of Civil Aviation in 1997.But to date the agency has not been set up.”Air Traffic Controllers provide a professional service and are trying to ensure a safe sky under difficult conditions, yet they do not receive recognition for this,” Namatca said.Director of Civil Aviation Bethuel Mujetenga could not be reached for comment.