Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) will be implemented in eight countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), The Post reported on Tuesday.

According to the newspaper, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has advanced the implementation of the system in the eight countries including Zambia.

IATA has announced that the system procedures for flight guidance in the selected SADC countries will take effect in the first quarter of next year.

The exercise, which is part of a five-year project undertaken by IATA to implement the use of the system globally, involves 13 airports in the eight countries and is designed to enhance safety, reduce costs and improve efficiency.

In Zambia, Livingstone and Lusaka international airports have been earmarked for the project under IATA funding, while the implementation of the procedures in others airports around the country will be locally funded.

GNSS based procedures have been developed for 37 aero-dromes in 17 African countries and the surrounding islands but to date only Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have published the procedures without operational restrictions.

Source: Xinhua