In a landmark achievement for African aviation, an airport in South Africa has installed surveillance technology at its premises that is designed to keep unauthorised drones and other aircraft from interfering with legitimate aircraft operations.
Lanseria International Airport, a private airport in north-west Johannesburg will be the first aircraft station to install the FlightLine air traffic surveillance system; a development instigated locally by local unmanned aerial systems technology company SSASS Holdings, through its strategic partnership with American airspace surveillance solutions provider, uAvionix Corporation.
FlightLine is a surveillance data service provider (SDSP) platform designed to enhance airspace awareness for UAS (Uncrewed Aircraft Systems) operators.
It combines ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) data from both cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft with computer vision to provide a comprehensive view of the airspace.
This allows drone operators, air traffic controllers, and UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) platforms to track and manage both ADS-B equipped and non-ADS-B equipped aircraft, improving safety and efficiency in various operational scenarios, including BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations
For SSASS, the deployment at Lanseria marks the beginning of a new era of cost-effective, high-performance ADS-B-based situational awareness for airports across the African continent.
“This achievement places South Africa at the forefront of aviation safety innovation on the continent,” said Dean Polley, CEO of SSASS Holdings.
“We believe that FlightLine, with its scalable and affordable architecture, can redefine how regional and international airports in Africa manage increasing air traffic volumes—especially as drones become part of our everyday skies.”
He added that the installation is part of a broader campaign led by SSASS Holdings to implement FlightLine across African airports — mirroring its recent expansion at major airports in the USA, which include Richmond, Norfolk, Pensacola, Southwest Florida, Charleston and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airports
Installation at these airports was done under the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Surface Awareness Initiative.
Besides, uAvionix — alongside partner Capital Sciences — was awarded contracts to deliver FlightLine at fourteen more major airports, including Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando Sanford, Daytona Beach, Miami Executive and Palm Beach International Airports.
"The installation of FlightLine at Lanseria International Airport is more than just a technical milestone—it’s a signal that Africa is ready to lead in deploying modern, data-driven safety systems,” said Cyriel Kronenburg, Vice President of Aviation Networks & UAS at uAvionix Corporation.
“We are proud to see our vision for globally connected airspace come to life here, in partnership with SSASS Holdings.”
The powers that be at Lanseria International Airport, which is recognised for its operational excellence and strategic importance, welcomed the deployment as a step toward even greater capabilities.
“Lanseria has always been committed to adopting progressive technologies that improve our operations,” said Rampa Rammopo, CEO of Lanseria International Airport.
“The FlightLine installation is an important investment in the future. It aligns perfectly with our mission to offer world-class safety standards and supports our vision of being a smart, connected airport.”
With this installation, South Africa becomes the first country in Africa to implement this next-generation air traffic surveillance solution, reinforcing its position as a continental leader in aviation innovation.