South Africa: Air Traffic Control Is Becoming More Automated. Is Regulation Keeping Up?

What the report says

In an analysis published by The Conversation Africa and carried by AllAfrica on 23 August 2026, Cindy Hendrikse examines how automation is changing air traffic control in South Africa and whether regulation is adapting quickly enough. The piece says the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which sets global aviation standards, is pushing a broader modernisation of air navigation systems through its Global Air Navigation Plan, and that South Africa has followed this trend through the South African Air Traffic and Navigation Service.

Hendrikse argues that automated tools are intended to improve safety, efficiency and capacity as air traffic grows, but they can also create new operational risks. Drawing on doctoral research and a survey of controllers from several regions, including South Africa, the article highlights concerns such as overreliance on automation, reduced manual skills, weaker situational awareness and training that does not fully match real-world use. It also notes that system failures or software limits can increase workload and prompt staff to rely on nonstandard workarounds.

The analysis links these concerns to recent South African aviation figures cited in the article, including a reported rise in general aviation accidents and incidents in 2021-2022, as well as higher controller hazard reporting in 2023-2024. The author says these trends raise broader questions about the balance between technology, human factors and safety oversight.

The article also says regulation has struggled to keep pace internationally and in South Africa, where the civil aviation authority follows global standards and does not currently require separate certification of automated air traffic control systems. The piece suggests that future oversight may need more specialised technical skills as automation becomes more advanced.