Namibia ATC
Please take note.
The department of civil aviation (DCA) is on a downhill track, and gaining momentum fast. Unfortunately its dragging its ATC's with it.
The Namibian DCA has been short-staffed for more than 10 years, and nothing seems to be done about it. (Although management will differ with me here) One just has to look at the staff establishment to see that a shortage of close to 50% exists in ATC's.
Namibia has well qualified and dedicated ATC's, working a minimum of 48 hours per week. Many are expected to perform additional duties in their "off time". Working conditions are, and have been for a long time, challenging to say the least. The staff morale is at its lowest its ever been, despite the ministry's recent efforts to improve the situation by restructuring the DCA. After 5 years of negotiations, some senior ATC's now receive just short of 2K more per month. Its more of an insult than a raise...
An ATC in Namibia pays between 34% and 50% of what his/her counterpart in south africa earns. And ATNS is struggling to keep their staff!!!
This is then the reason why 2 ATC's have already left to south africa this year alone, and another 7 are currently negotiatong with ATNS. This leaves the DCA in crisis, especially now that the new AREA centre has to be taken into operation. ATC's will have to be employed from elsewhere, and the only ones likely to apply are probably zimbabweans and/or zambians. (Those that have been unsuccesfull at finding jobs with ATNS) Another strategy discussed by management is to close all regional airports and relocate those ATC's to Windhoek.
Forgive me for sounding negative, but I believe its time to put the facts on the table. Management in the DCA denies that a crisis is looming, and keep on overspending their budgets, supplementing the then created shortages from the ATC training budget. Many ATC's are not receiving essential training as prescribed by ICAO, due to the non availability of funds. Yet close to a million dollars has recently been spent on a non essential trip by non essential staff to canada. See the media re this!!! (all organised by the ex-director who's co-incidentily apparently being investigated by the anti corruption commition at the moment, but thats a whole new story by itself)
Its time that the flying community takes note of the happenings regarding Namibian ATC. They are losing well experienced and key staff rapidly, and this will have a big impact on the future safety of the namibian skies.