By Moses Sentamu
Africa Region Air Safety Personnel under their umbrella body, the International Federation of Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (IFTSEA), have agreed to collaborate on drones to inspect navigation aids and airspace procedures.
This was revealed during the 15th International Federation of Air Traffic Safety Electronics Associations (IFATSEA) Africa Regional Meeting, hosted by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) in partnership with UGATSEA, at the Speke Resort Convention Centre, Munyonyo.
Running from June 17th to 19th, 2025, the meeting brought together over 100 aviation safety professionals and engineers from across Africa and beyond, under the theme: “Digital Transformation in CNS/ATM: Strengthening ATSEP Competencies for a Safer and Sustainable Future.”
Over the three-day event, delegates participated in discussions on transformative technologies shaping the aviation sector, including the use of drone technology for flight calibration, Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and predictive maintenance. These sessions reinforced the need for regional collaboration, innovation, and continuous professional development for Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEPs).
Fred Bamwesigye, the UCAA’s Director General, welcomed this move, saying that rapid changes in technology not only demand that Air Traffic controllers keep pace but also to lead with innovation, adaptability and a renewed commitment.
“The use of drones in the aviation industry is very key because every time the world moves forward. I am very confident that drones will greatly help to fight cybersecurity risks in air navigation services,” he said.
The president of Uganda Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (UGATSEA), Isaac Kamugo, emphasised that, as the Africa Region, they intend to use drones to conduct air navigation services that guide aircraft and ensure they are safe within the skies.
“The drone facility is built into the aircraft and may not necessarily have political issues because it largely focuses on technical issues,” he revealed.
Daniel Kazungu from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority explored the use of drone technology for flight inspection of navigational aids highlighting benefits such as improved precision, reduced airspace disruption, lower operational costs, and enhanced safety.
Panellists in a discussion hinted at how data analytics and machine learning are enabling Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) to shift from reactive maintenance to predictive fault detection, leading to better system uptime, increased safety, and cost-efficiency.
Kazungu, therefore, concluded with a strong call to embrace the innovation while maintaining the highest safety standards.
The Africa Region Director for the International Federation of Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (IFTSEA), Sam Mahlangu, noted that the move marks another significant milestone in their journey to advance safety, efficiency and sustainability of air navigation services across the African continent.
The conference brought together safety engineering professionals from across the continent, including countries like Angola, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Gambia, Niger, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Kenya, and Tanzania among others to advance collaboration, innovation, and competency development in aviation.
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