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Deciding whether or not to become a drone operator in South Africa can be a confusing journey. There are a lot of rules and conflicting information you need to navigate. It can be hard figuring it all out so this is a helpful guide to outline some of the essentials you need. Strap in and let’s fly.

This guide will break down all the information to answer the first round of questions most people have on how to become a drone operator in South Africa. This guide includes the basics of types of flying and why you can’t just fly a drone illegally, on what the SACAA , ROC and an RPL are and three different drone training schools you can use to get your RPL. As well as the essential rules outlined on what you can and can not do with a remote piloted aircraft.

Some of the basics to know​

To become a commercial drone pilot you will need to go through certification and take the exams. The first step is getting your Remote Pilots License (RPL), second would be your Air Service License (ASL) from the department of transport and then your Remote Operators Certificate (ROC) from the SACAA if you want to run a commercial drone company. Otherwise as a RPL you can work under someone else’s ROC.

If you’re flying a drone as a hobby (personal and private use) then a license is not required, however, you still have to follow the South African Civil Aviation Authority’s (SACAA) regulations on Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). 

The Director of Civil Aviation has designated an external organisation to oversee the operations of recreational aviation. This is the Association for aeromodellers and officially representing all forms of aeromodelling in S.A. They actively promote the construction and regulation of the safe flying of model aircraft in South Africa and ensure access and full participation for all South Africans in all facets of aeromodelling.

Their website is www.samaa.org.za.

From here on out we will go through a basic breakdown of the SACAA, what an ROC is and what an RPL is. Then we will outline three different drone training facilitates and conclude with the safety procedures that all drone enthusiasts should know when flying in South Africa.

But can’t I just buy a drone and fly by myself?​

In order to do commercial work a Remote Pilot Aircraft (RPAS) / Drone Pilot is required by the SACAA to have both licenses to be in place. If you are caught not having the required license you may be liable for harsh fines. This is due to the reality that if you don’t follow the rules you can cause fatal accidents. For example if there is a collision with another aircraft or you could injure a member of the public or damage a person’s property. There are also the legal liabilities for breaking laws such as South African privacy by-laws as as well as other laws enforceable by other authorities.

In 2014 the surge of use of drones especially for commercial purposes prompted the SACAA to integrate the use of drones into the South Africa airspace. It is possible illegal flying who are caught operating could face fines of up to R50 000, a prison sentence of up to 10 years or both.

You need to take all of these into account and make sure you follow the compliance and safety requirements. If you wish to fly for private then these are the rules you need to follow.

Commercial drone pilots must follow the SACAA’s Part 101 rules, which include the following requirements: Drones used for commercial operations must weigh less than 24kgs. Drones cannot be flown at night, over people, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), or from a moving vehicle without a waiver.

Important Organisations and Roles you will need to know​ The SACAA ​

The SACAA is the South African Civil Aviation Authority and their brand promise is keeping you safe in the sky. Their mission is to regulate the civil aviation safety and security in support of the sustainable development of the aviation industry. They are a world-class civil aviation regulator who are responsible for the oversight and the accountability of drone operations in South Africa.

The SACAA is a Schedule 3A public entity in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (“PFMA”). It was established on the 1st of October 1998. The Civil Aviation Act, 2009, (Act No.13 of 2009) provides for the establishment of a stand-alone authority mandated with controlling, promoting, regulating, supporting, developing, enforcing and continuously improving levels of safety and security throughout the civil aviation industry.

The management of the SACAA is structured along three core responsibility levels:

1. the Strategic Management level that constitutes the Executive Management
   – They work to develop and maintain positive links with the industry and to co-ordinate the international relations with various international organisations.
2. the Project Management level that works together with the Executive Management which constitutes the Senior Management
   – They co-ordinate the technical activities of the key areas of oversight. These include Accident and Incident Investigations, Aviation Infrastructures, Aviation Safety Operations and Aviation Security.
3. The Operational level is organised according to various technical departments like Legal and Aviation Compliance, Internal Audit, Finance, Human Resources and Corporate Services.
   – These technical departments report to the areas of oversight relevant to their specific activities and ensure the organisation runs efficiently.

Their website is http://www.caa.co.za/

The ROC holder​

An ROC has a Remote Operator Certificate. They work as the bridge between professional remote pilots and the SACAA. They need to complete multiple documents and it can take up to two years to fulfil all the testing, inspections and more to be registered. A remote pilot cannot fly professionally without clearance from the SACAA and the channel to be cleared is through an ROC.

This is in part because of the Operational Specifications (Ops Spec) that ROC hold. The Ops Spec will contain the authorizations, limitations and provisions applicable to the operation.

The certificate holder is responsible for continued compliance with all the regulations, authorizations, limitations and provisions of its certificate and operational specifications.

The SACAA is responsible for conducting periodic inspections of the operator’s operation to ensure continued compliance with the regulations and safe operating procedures.

In summary the ROC ensures the pilots under it are flying safely and following regulation.

The RPL​

The RPL is the license needed for professional operations in South Africa.

It is noted on the SACAA website that RPAS training in South Africa is still in its infancy, as it is globally. The South African Civil Aviation Authority working closely with industry to develop the training standards, syllabus and resources necessary for the industry to expand and grow professionally.

The process of securing a drone license is mandated by Part 101 of the SACAA regulations. Part of the process is passing a knowledge test comprising of 60 multiple choice questions. You have to correctly answer at least 70 percent of the questions correctly to pass the exam and be eligible to be granted a drone license.

Much like going through a driving school to get your driver’s license you go through a flight school to get your RPL.

Here are three reputable Drone Pilot Training Schools In South Africa