#SANSFikrahthon 2025

#SANSFikrahthon is a program that develops to challenge university students to demonstrate their talents and creativity in creating solutions for the air navigation industry.

Welcome to Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS), a leading organization that provides air navigation services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where we play an important and vital role in the security and safety of airspace and aircraft movements. SANS manages one of the largest airspaces in the middle east more than 2 million square kilometers and it is recognized regionally for its safety record, service excellence, and technological innovation. At Saudi Air Navigation Services, we offer air traffic Management services, flight planning, aeronautical information management services, maintenance engineering services, engineering services, search & rescue services, and weather briefings and we oversee air traffic through a sophisticated network of area control centers, air traffic control towers, flight information centers, maintenance centers, and navigation aids across the country.  

We are excited to announce our leading initiative, #SANSFikrahthon, which offers university students the opportunity to gain valuable training and employment experience with our company. #SANSFikrahthon is a unique program that provides students with an opportunity to develop their skills in various areas, including communications and teamwork, innovation and creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, leadership, strategic planning, and other essential skills that students need in today's competitive job market. By participating in #SANSFikrahthon, students will have the chance to work alongside our experienced professionals and gain valuable skills that will help them succeed in their future careers. In addition, students who complete the program will be eligible for on-job training employment opportunities with our company. But that's not all - we also offer a range of awards and incentives for the winners in #SANSFikrahthon. 

If you're interested in learning more about #SANSFikrahthon and how you can participate, simply click the link below and fill out the form. 

If you have any questions or inquiries, please direct them to: Fikrah@sans.com.sa

Ideas Descriptions

First idea: Detect Traffic Controller Focus: 

Situation:

Being an Air Traffic Controller ATCO is no like another job; tension levels are high, the need to stay fully attentive and responsive, aware of every situation and make priority calls and decisions in fragments of seconds to ensure that every human life on skies is safe. This requires the ATCOs to be in good mental, physical, and psychological conditions day in day out. The fatigue is one of the major enemies for Air Men in general and ATCOs in specific. While there are many reasons for fatigue varies from low night sleeping hours, distraction of personal issues, stress, and too many other factors, yet the fatigue may have some symptoms that would enable early detection and timely intervention. This should be helping in having better performance of the ATCOs and hence safer skies.

The Challenge:

How to deploy the technology to detect early symptoms of fatigue and alert the person (and probably the supervisor) that they’re under fatigue conditions. So, they can rest and leave their seats to others. 

What Are The Expectations Include:

• Identifying the reasons of fatigue (to be as comprehensive as possible).
• Identifying the symptoms of fatigue in general and on Air Controller in specific. 
• Finding the way needed to detect these symptoms.
• Developing the solution needed to detect and alert.

Second Idea: Ai-Powered Self-Service Agent:

To develop an in-house AI agent that enhances operational efficiency, empowers employees with self-service capabilities, and supports core functions-specific workflows through intelligent automation and contextual understanding.

Scope of the Project

The Ai Agent Will Support:

1. Conversational Interfaces
2. Automation & Integration
3. Advanced Capabilities

Targeted Participants:

• Senior Graduation/Undergraduate university students in Saudi Arabia in their last year of graduation.
• Saudi national.
• Major in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence 
• GPA: Not less than 3/4 or 3.75/5
• The application must be submitted by a team of (three) students from the same university.
• Each team may choose to work on only one idea

Evaluation Criteria:

• Design (50%): it assesses whether the project defines and addresses a relevant problem or need and how well-designed the project is in terms of user interface, user experience, and functionality.
• Presentation (30%): it measures how well-presented the project is in terms of clarity, coherence, creativity, confidence, and engagement. 
• Teamwork (20%): it measures how well the team worked together to achieve their goal. It assesses how the team communicated, coordinated, and cooperated with each other during the Fikrahthon.

Timeline:

• Deadline for the application: 18 Sep 2025
• Last day to notify the selected candidates: 09 Oct 2025
• Site visit to SANS: start from 19 Oct 2025
• Event day: 18 Dec 2025

Awards:

• First Group place winner:
  1. On-job training  ending with employment opportunity within SANS.
  2. SAR 30,000 for the team.
• Second Group place winner:
  1. Training in SANS
  2. SAR 15,000 for the team.

* We welcome applications from people with disabilities. We have a range of facilities and accommodations to support your needs and help you thrive in our work environment.