■ SOUTH AFRICA: Thales to upgrade ATNS South Africa's Radar system, ATM systems.

Thales and Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS) Company of South Africa have announced the recent signing of contracts including the replacement of the legacy ATNS ATM system with Thales' TopSky-ATC and the installation of Thales 970s Radars at the Wakkerstroom, Potgieterus and Rhodes radar sites. The contract also provides for a support and maintenance agreement for all existing ATNS radar sensors and TopSky-ATC systems.

■ NIGERIA: NAMA plans full area radar coverage by month's end.

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) says it will commence full area radar control by the end of this month having up in place all the necessary logistics and equipment to run a hassle-free air traffic operation, the agency's Managing Director, Engr  Nnamdi Udoh, has said.

■ MOZAMBIQUE: AdM's air traffic control comms network to be upgraded with PolarSat's VSATPlus 3.

Mozambique's air traffic control communications network, under the control of Aeroportos de Moçambique (AdM), is to be ungraded with a VSATPlus 3 satellite communications network following the signing of a multi-phase contract between GECI, a worldwide high technology, engineering, E&M support and consulting group, and PolarSat Inc, a manufacturer of full mesh hubless VSAT modem technology.

■ MOZAMBIQUE: Renovation of Maputo's runway 05/23 and other infrastructure to begin in 2014.

Following the October opening of the new Domestic Terminal at Maputo International Airport, Aeroportos de Moçambique (AdM) has announced that work on Phase III of the rejuvenation of the airport - namely the rebuilding of runway 05/23, the apron, and other facilities including all airfield lighting systems at the airport - is to begin in 2014, having previously been scheduled for 2013.

● ETHIOPIA: 100 pilots, cabin crew and ATCOs graduate from the EAA and ECAA ground schools.

Ethiopia's growing aviation education sector this last week added 100 new trained and qualified professionals to the growing local and regional market with the Ethiopian Aviation Academy (EAA) graduating 20 Pilots and 72 Cabin Crew and the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) graduating 8 air traffic controllers.