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Grintek to upgrade Zambia's aviation communications network

Grintek Aviation Systems has been awarded a multimillion rand contract by National Airports Corporation (NACL) in Zambia to upgrade its VHF communications network.

The contract includes the provision of three new sites, inclusive of all civil infrastructure and equipment to provide a fully integrated VHF communications network across the country's air space.

This is the third contract in sub-Saharan Africa awarded to Grintek Aviation Systems in recent months. The company is also upgrading a similar network in Botswana for the Botswana directorate of Civil Aviation.

Xinyamisi Shemane-Diseko, the head of corporate affairs and communications at Grintek, says the new contract is further proof of the group's commitment to clients and markets on the African continent.

"Air traffic in southern Africa is growing at around 10% annually and all countries in the region must work together to ensure the highest level of safety. Our network and systems are designed to increase the efficiency of air traffic services and provide peace of mind to both travellers, airlines and airport authorities," she says.

The three new Zambian sites at Lusaka, Ndola Kaloko and Mongu, will be integrated into the existing system, which will be centralised at the Lusaka International Airport outside the country's capital.

"The three sites were selected to provide VHF coverage in areas where limited VHF communication was possible, which meant that aircraft flying in these areas were not assured of VHF communication for air traffic control purposes. Once the project is complete, air traffic controllers based at Lusaka International Airport, will be able to communicate with any aircraft flying in the region," says Len Collier, director of Grintek Aviation Systems.

There is a growing emphasis on responsibility on air traffic services to provide a 'seamless airspace' across the continent, says Shemane-Diseko.

"The Grintek system will help to achieve this. We have developed a system that is tailor-made for the requirements of Zambia and the rest of the region."

According to Collier, the project should be completed in April next year, which will see a marked improvement in Zambia's VHF communication network, benefiting the pilots and air traffic controllers in terms of efficiency and safe air traffic control.

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