Cape Town - Fifty air traffic controllers are currently being trained and an additional 16 international air traffic controllers are being recruited, in order to cope with the expected flood of aircraft movements during next year's soccer World Cup.

According to a written reply to a parliamentary question given by Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele to Greg Krumbock of the Democratic Alliance on Tuesday, the international controllers will only be appointed on a fixed term employment of six months.

The minister added that the Air Traffic and Navigation Services company (ATNS) has also entered into a memorandum of understanding with the South African Air Force for the training of aerodrome controllers. In terms of this memorandum, six ATNS personnel are currently under training at the Air Force Command and Control School, and another six were to be sent in November 2009. Another six SAAF aerodrome controllers will be deployed in ATNS air traffic service units from this month for a year.

"The above-mentioned interventions are meant to address the air traffic controller staff shortages in preparation for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup," Ndebele said. "Staffing requirements beyond 2010 are being addressed through ATNS' internal training programme, which currently consists of 113 ATC/ATSA bursars.

"Furthermore, ATNS is currently negotiating a memorandum of understanding with Airways New Zealand, the air navigation service provider of New Zealand, for the possibility of sharing information and expertise in terms of air traffic control training and other air traffic management concepts, such as safety."

- I-Net Bridge