report of the action team on global navigation satellite systems (gnss)

enlarging an important number <strong>of</strong> facilities and excellent faculty members, thus developingworldwide standard tutorials.505. In <strong>the</strong> Russian Federation, <strong>the</strong> Russian Aviation and Space Agency in <strong>the</strong> framework <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Federal GLONASS Mission Oriented Program has initiated and has also been sponsoring <strong>the</strong>special program for educational satellite navigation course preparation.506. In Senegal, <strong>the</strong> personnel <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> civil aviation authorities have been trained at <strong>the</strong> AirSafety and Navigation Agency in Madagascar (ASECNA) and at <strong>the</strong> National School <strong>of</strong> CivilAviation (ENAC) in France.507. The South African Government has three institutions, which particularly deal with GNSSand GPS. These are <strong>the</strong> Satellite Applications Centre, <strong>the</strong> Air Traffic Navigation Systemscompany and <strong>the</strong> Chief Directorate: Surveys and Mapping in <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Land Affairs.508. The Satellite Applications Centre (SAC), at Hartebeeshoek, near Johannesburg, toge<strong>the</strong>rwith <strong>the</strong> Hartebeeshoek Radio Astronomy Observatory make use <strong>of</strong> permanent GPS stations forcalibration purposes. They provide in-house training to personnel and visiting trainees; however,<strong>the</strong>y do not have formal programmes <strong>of</strong> training in this area as such training is provided on an adhoc, needs basis.509. The Air Traffic Navigation Services Company (ATNS) provides air traffic control andassociated services for continental South Africa and a large oceanic region. In addition tocontrolling all upper airspace and terminal control areas in South Africa, ATNS also providesservices at 21 airports. Surveillance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> South African oceanic sectors is achieved through <strong>the</strong>use <strong>of</strong> satellites and communications, through data link with aircraft that are suitably equippedand certified. In addition, ATNS provides GNSS charts for a number <strong>of</strong> African countries. TheATNS has an Aviation Training Academy, situated at Johannesburg International Airport.Training in Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) isprovided for air traffic service personnel, air traffic service planners and for senior managementto equip <strong>the</strong>m appropriately. The practical application <strong>of</strong> GNSS and GPS applies only to <strong>the</strong> firsttwo categories <strong>of</strong> personnel. Certain courses can be provided in o<strong>the</strong>r states, if <strong>the</strong> requirementexists. Training has been provided at various locations beyond South African borders to meetclient needs.510. Surveys and mapping in <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Land Affairs, which maintains <strong>the</strong> SouthAfrican national mapping programme and trigonometric survey, has a training component whichprovides practical training for Technical Institute students and in-house trainees. However, mostin-depth GPS application training is informal and on <strong>the</strong> job training. From time to time seminarsare run on specific areas <strong>of</strong> interest such as <strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> network <strong>of</strong> permanent GPSbase stations (known as TrigNet, established and maintained by <strong>the</strong> survey <strong>of</strong>fice) outside <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><strong>of</strong>fice.511. In addition, <strong>the</strong>re are training possibilities outside <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Government controlled bodies.In fact, most formal training is done outside <strong>of</strong> Government bodies.512. In <strong>the</strong> United Kingdom <strong>of</strong> Great Britain and Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Ireland, <strong>the</strong> National PhysicalLaboratory has organised a short-term course and workshop on next-generation global navigationsatellite systems. Details can be found at http://www.npl.co.uk/npl/training/courses/nggnss.html.92