Safety Specialist: Flight Procedure Design (FPD), Aeronautical Information (AI) & Aeronautical Cartography (AC) at ATNS

Job description

• Oversee the maintenance of the ATNS Safety Management System relevant to Flight procedure design, Aeronautical Information Management, Aeronautical Cartography and Obstacle Evaluations - Safety Policy and Objectives. Assist in the establishment and maintenance of a safety policy and processes that align with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices. Define safety objectives and ensure they are communicated and understood by Operations and the rest of the organization.
•  Safety Risk Management. Identify hazards associated with flight procedure design, AIM, aeronautical cartography, and obstacle evaluations. Conduct risk assessments and implement risk mitigation strategies to manage identified risks.
• Safety Assurance. Monitor and measure the effectiveness of safety risk controls. Conduct periodic safety audits and reviews to ensure compliance with ICAO standards and continuous improvement of the Safety Management System. Provide guidance to ensure implementation of recommendations resulting from SACAA Part 173, 177, 175 and 178 audits. Monitoring of Safety Regulation and Instrument Flight Procedures/, ICAO Doc 8168. Develop safety reports on FPD, AIM, Aeronautical Cartography and OE for OPSCOM. Ensure compliance with all relevant ICAO SARPS, CARS and CATS for FPD, AIM, Aeronautical Cartography and OE section. Conduct Oversight of FPD related courses and course material. Provide inputs and guidance to ICAO, CANSO and CARCOM and NASCOM workgroups, sub-groups and planning groups.
• Safety Promotion. Foster a safety culture within the organization by promoting safety awareness and training. Ensure that all personnel involved in flight procedure design, AIM, aeronautical cartography, and obstacle evaluations are adequately trained and competent. 
• Documentation and Record Keeping. Maintain comprehensive records of all safety-related activities, including hazard identification, risk assessments, and safety audits. Ensure that all documentation is up-to-date and accessible to relevant personnel.
• Coordination and Communication. Facilitate effective communication and coordination between various departments and stakeholders, including Airport Authorities, Flight Procedure Designers, ATM, Regulators, ATSUs, Airport Safeguarding, AIM, Cartographers, Surveyors, Database Coders, and Operators. Ensure that safety information is shared and integrated across all relevant functions

Research -

•  Identify and undertake research and development projects when required that will advance the corporate safety objectives of ATNS. Perform thorough research on aviation safety topics, including the latest developments in flight procedure design, AIM, aeronautical cartography, and obstacle evaluations. Stay updated with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and other relevant regulations. Analyze data and trends to identify potential safety improvements and innovations. Collaborate with internal teams such as Flight Procedure Designers, AIM specialists, Cartographers, Surveyors, and Database Coders. Facilitate effective communication and coordination within the organization to ensure alignment with safety objectives and standards

Flight Procedures, Data Management and Airspace Design - Flight Procedures. 

• Develop and validate instrument flight procedures (IFPs) in accordance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), but for Business Development and Non-SACAA required procedures. Ensure that all flight procedures are designed to enhance safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Design non-South African Flight Procedures and Airspace as per AP005/FPD Operations Manual, including ICAO DOC 8168 Vol II and ICAO DOC 9906 Vol I and ICAO DOC 9613 criteria, accepting responsibility and accountability that designs are produced in accordance with the relevant criteria and are compliant for the safe operation of aircraft. Provide oversight of quality assurance system for flight procedure design, as outlined in ICAO Doc 9906. Perform safety assessments to identify and mitigate risks associated with flight procedures. Document safety cases to provide assurance of the safety and reliability of these procedures. Provide specialist consulting services to third parties outside South Africa seeking flight procedure design services.
•  Data Management. Collect, validate, and manage aeronautical data to ensure its accuracy and reliability. Use standardized data formats to maintain data quality and interoperability. Database Management: Maintain and update aeronautical databases, ensuring data integrity and compliance with ICAO requirements. Implement data protection measures to safeguard sensitive information. 
• Data Analysis. Analyze aeronautical data to support decision-making processes and improve operational efficiency. Identify trends and patterns to enhance safety and performance. 
• Airspace Design. Airspace Planning: Design and optimize airspace structures to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. Ensure that airspace design aligns with ICAO's Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) principles. Coordination and Collaboration: Work closely with stakeholders, including air traffic management (ATM) units, regulators, and airport authorities, to ensure cohesive airspace design. Facilitate effective communication and coordination to address any airspace-related issues. Provision of technical advice and input to the airspace and route design function. 
• Regulatory Compliance. Ensure that all airspace design activities comply with ICAO regulations and national aviation authority requirements. Stay updated with changes in regulations and incorporate them into the airspace design domain and processes. Remain knowledgeable with respect to all ICAO developments in flight procedure design, AIM, Aeronautical Cartography, OE and ATM operational concepts. Ensure that all designs comply with local environmental considerations. Assist with facilitating FPD-related courses. Maintain own Pans-Ops competency through training plan.

Stakeholder Relations Management - 

• Establish sound relationships with all relevant internal and external stakeholders to support ongoing alignment and collaboration. Engage with external stakeholders, including Airport Authorities, Air Traffic Management (ATM) units, Regulators, ATSUs, and Airport Safeguarding teams. Represent the organization in meetings, workshops, and conferences to discuss safety-related matters and share best practices. Provide expert advice and support to clients, ensuring their needs and concerns are addressed in line with ICAO requirements. Engage SACAA on FPD, AIM, Aeronautical Cartography and OE related matters. Participate in Instrument Flight Procedure Panels, workshops and conferences as relevant. Represent ATNS at local stakeholder forums. Attend Work Groups as required for the maintenance of safety and standards.
• Administration and Reporting - Documentation Management. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all relevant activities. 
• Reporting. Prepare and submit regular safety and compliance reports to management and prepare regulatory authorities. 
• Compliance Monitoring. Ensure adherence to ICAO regulations and internal safety policies through regular reviews and audits. Monitor and ensure SACAA audit and corrective action plans are submitted timeously. Provide inputs and guidance in ICAO, CANSO and CARCOM and NASCOM workgroups, sub-groups and planning groups. Provide specialist consultancy services for ATNS to third parties outside South Africa seeking flight procedure design services. Identify and undertake research and development projects, where required, that will advance the corporate safety objectives of ATNS. Facilitate effective communication and information sharing across departments and stakeholders. Assist with scheduling, agenda preparation, and minute-taking for safety meetings.
•  Data Management. Analyze and manage data to identify trends and ensure data integrity, i.e. accuracy and completeness.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Grade 12 with a university exemption and a pass rate in both Mathematics and Science
• Completion of Basic PANS-OPS Course and Advanced PANS-OPS Course in line with ICAO requirements
• Completion of the AT/AIM Core Content Course, where applicable
• Qualified Air Traffic Controller, IFR Rated Pilot, ATSO, AIM Officer or more than ten years’ flight procedure design experience

Minimum Years of Experience:

• Minimum 5 years extensive experience in air transport operations, including:
• Flight procedure design and validation
• On-the-Job instruction
•  Aeronautical Cartography: Experience in aeronautical cartography will be an advantage
• Aeronautical Surveying: Experience in aeronautical surveying will be an advantage
• Procedure Design Project Management: Experience managing projects related to flight procedure design will be an advantage
• Obstacle Evaluation: Familiarity with ICAO Annex 14 and experience in obstacle evaluation will be an advantage