# South Africa’s Air Traffic and Navigation Services is facing a critical skills crisis due to an exodus of experienced air traffic controllers who are being poached by international competitors. ATNS says aggressive headhunting from countries like the United Arab Emirates and Australia has left key operations severely understaffed. The approach control unit at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng, which manages the critical part of flights, is operating at just 57-percent of its required staffing target. ATNS has launched an accelerated recruitment drive, implementing open-ended advertising and headhunting.
SA’s ATNS face critical skills crisis with shortage of Air Traffic Controllers