The Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) is looking for South African students who have finished high school and are not working yet. If you have good results in Maths and English, love flying and want to start a career in aviation, you can join the Air Traffic Services (ATS) Bursary Programme 2026. This programme offers 117 places, and it will pay for your training at the Aviation Training Academy in Bonaero Park. After the training, you’ll be assigned to a job that fits what ATNS needs.
Application deadline: 31 January 2026
What the ATS Bursary Gives You
If you win a spot, you’ll learn everything a professional air traffic officer needs to know. You’ll spend time both in the classroom and in real airports or control centres. Your training will last a set number of months, after which you will start working with ATNS wherever a position is available. The job is demanding, so you need to stay focused, be ready to work hard, and always keep safety in mind.
Bursary Streams You Can Choose From
ATNS offers five different specialities. Pick one that interests you the most:
- Air Traffic Services Officer (ATSO)
- Aeronautical Information Management Officer (AIMO)
- Target Generating Officer (TGO)
- Airport Management Centre (AMC) Liaison Officer
- Simulator Support Officer (SSO)
All of these streams give you both theory and practical lessons in air traffic control and other parts of aviation.
Who Can Apply?
To qualify, you must meet every one of the following:
- Be a South African citizen and have a valid ID.
- Hold a matric certificate and have passed:
- Pure Mathematics – Level 4 with a grade of HG D / SG C or better.
- English – Level 4 with a grade of HG D / SG C or better.
- Attach a copy of your Grade 12 results to your application.
- Be unemployed at the time of application.
- Be in good health and ready to have a medical check (especially for the ATSO stream).
- Be willing to move to any part of South Africa if needed.
- If you were already part of a similar ATNS programme, you cannot apply again.
How to Submit Your Application
Apply now for the Air Traffic Services Bursary 2026
Make sure you finish the online form before the deadline. Applications that arrive after 31 January 2026 or that are missing parts will not be accepted.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Check that your Maths and English scores are at or above the required level.
- Upload clear, certified copies of your matric results.
- Get ready for medical tests, psychometric tests, and other selection steps.
- Show that you can stay committed and follow instructions – the bursary demands a lot of responsibility.