ICAO support in action: modernising Angola’s air navigation infrastructure

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Angola’s aviation sector is undergoing a major technical transformation as part of a long-term effort to strengthen safety, capacity, and regional connectivity. At the centre of this effort is a USD 25 million technical cooperation project led by the International Civil Aviation Organization in partnership with Angola’s Ministério dos Transportes and the Empresa Nacional de Navegação Aérea.

Signed in April 2021, the agreement supports the modernisation of Angola’s Air Navigation Systems infrastructure ahead of the full opening of the Aeroporto Internacional Dr. António Agostinho Neto, which is expected to position the country as a regional aviation hub. The project is being implemented by ICAO’s Capacity Development and Implementation team and is aligned with Angola’s national priorities and global aviation safety standards.

ICAO’s broader implementation support framework provides context for the Angola initiative. Operating under policy guidance from the ICAO Assembly and Council, the organisation delivers technical cooperation and assistance projects tailored to the needs of individual States. With active projects in 115 countries and an annual portfolio of around 250 initiatives, ICAO focuses on infrastructure upgrades, regulatory improvements, and training programmes designed to build long-term national capacity in aviation safety, security, efficiency, and sustainability.

These efforts are guided by ICAO’s Implementation Support Policy, adopted by the Council in 2022, which promotes a coordinated “One-ICAO” approach. The policy ensures that assistance funded by States, development partners, or other entities is delivered in a harmonised and cost-effective manner, consistent with national priorities and ICAO standards.

In Angola, the scope of work is extensive. The project covers the procurement and installation of modern air-ground voice communication systems, the transition from Aeronautical Information Services to Aeronautical Information Management, the deployment of new navigational aids, and the introduction of advanced surveillance systems including ADS-B and multilateration. It also includes airspace restructuring, a shift from procedural control to radar vectoring, and comprehensive training for ANS, CNS, ATS, and AIM personnel.

Several milestones have already been achieved. The provisional commissioning of the AIM system marks significant progress in Angola’s transition to advanced aeronautical data management. The full commissioning of VHF voice communication systems has improved the clarity and reliability of pilot-air traffic controller communications across the network.

A major collaborative moment came in March 2025, when Luanda hosted the Global Site Acceptance Test for the extension of VHF coverage across the Luanda Flight Information Region. This followed a technical cooperation agreement signed in January 2024 between ICAO, ENNA, and Jotron. The testing programme involved live-traffic validation and system verification across upgraded and newly established radio sites equipped with modern communication systems, power solutions, and security infrastructure. The successful signing of the GSAT certificate on 12 March 2025 marked a key technical and institutional achievement for all partners involved.

The air navigation modernisation is closely linked to the development of the new international airport. Located 45 kilometres southeast of Luanda, the facility is designed to handle 15 million passengers annually, with future expansion capacity of up to 65 million. It spans 30 square kilometres and includes dual parallel runways, a modern terminal and cargo hub, advanced air traffic control and meteorological systems, and dedicated emergency and utility infrastructure.

Angola’s decision to work with ICAO reflects the organisation’s experience in delivering large-scale air navigation modernisation projects and its emphasis on national capacity building. The upgrades are intended to support projected traffic growth and align Angola’s aviation system with the Aviation System Block Upgrades framework.

As Angola prepares for the full opening of its new international airport, the modernisation of its air navigation infrastructure represents more than a technical upgrade. It signals a strategic investment in safety, connectivity, and regional integration. For Africa’s rapidly growing aviation markets, projects like this underscore how sustained institutional partnerships can translate global standards into national capability, strengthening the continent’s role in international air transport while recognising that aviation systems, like the States that build them, are still evolving and finding their place in a competitive global landscape.

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