A collaborative approach between industry authority the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and drone operators is critical in further easing regulations for new and existing drone operators while achieving airspace safety, says drone-based services specialist RocketDNA quality assurance manager Lesiba Mudau.

Regulations have facilitated the formalisation of the drone industry in South Africa, leading to job creation and providing a structured framework for businesses to operate.

The company provides remote drone solutions that can be customised, in addition to training and consulting services to assist customers in navigating operator certification processes.

Mudau says the increase in the use of drones for personal and commercial purposes prompted SACAA to introduce Part 101 regulations in 2015.

Part 101 dictates the  requirements for drone operators engaged in commercial, private, non-profit or corporate activities. These regulations encompass aspects such as aircraft registration, certification, operations, maintenance, personnel requirements, and safety management systems.

Companies operating drones have to obtain an operating certificate and must adhere to the operating specifications.

However, Mudau notes that the regulations have been a learning curve for the SACAA and all industry stakeholders as the drone industry is relatively new and evolving.  

Further, prospective drone operators and companies aiming to specialise in drone operations often experience challenges in navigating the complex process and long waiting periods associated with obtaining licences and endorsements. This is particularly the case for companies that are not associated with the aerospace industry and or used to its terminology.

Mudau notes that companies encounter a waiting period when obtaining their air service licences from the Department of Transport, which is owing to a backlog of applications for both manned and unmanned air service licences.

This results in overall delays in certification approvals from the regulator.

Therefore, to assist companies, RocketDNA offers consulting services on the requirements and works through the application process with clients to improve the likelihood of the application being approved.

“We advise clients on what the authority expects from them and what [it] . . . requires. We’ll take care of the entire process of acquiring a remote operating certificate,” Mudau explains, adding that, in doing so, clients can avoid any hurdles during the process.

However, he stresses the importance of the regulator and industry stakeholders collaborating regularly to ensure that regulations are aligned with industry needs and facilitate industry growth.

“The authority cannot regulate what it does not know. Therefore, the industry and regulator must engage in conversations on how to make certification processes easier.”

Operator Trainees
Regulations require that drone operators must acquire a remote pilot certificate (RPC) licence from SACAA to participate in commercial and corporate drone use.

Owing to South Africa’s stringent regulations, operators with the locally obtained RPC can often operate in other countries without additional training.

A combination of theoretical knowledge – such as airspace rules and safety procedures – and practical training – facilitated by a training provider – is required before trainees are awarded an RPC.

Mudau explains that training can range from two to three weeks, based on a trainee’s capabilities. Following the successful completion of the theoretical and practical training, trainees need to acquire endorsements aligned to their goals.

These endorsements range between visual line of sight (VLOS), extended visual line of sight (EVLOS) and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), which provide the range within which operators can fly drones and the requirements to prevent collisions.

Trainees then have to perform a practical examination with a designated flight examiner mandated by the SACAA. Upon successful completion, the examiner submits the trainee’s information to the SACAA and they will then be issued with an RPC.

Drone operators also need to stay abreast of evolving drone technology, which Mudau anticipates will be introduced into the training curriculum of RocketDNA as new technology, including software and processes.

There is a developing trend of universities and colleges assessing the viability of integrating drone training into curriculums amid the increasing use of drones in, for example, surveying.

Consequently, companies and education institutes are liaising with drone training providers to facilitate training and consulting – a trend that will continue to grow and shape the drone industry, he adds.

Drone in a Box
For clients aiming to outsource drone operations, RocketDNA offers its Xbot solution range that includes the InspectBot, PatrolBot and SurveyBot.

The Xbot range encompasses the DJI Dock remote drone, developed by drone specialist DJI Enterprise. The range is equipped with customisable software from RocketDNA and operated by its certified remote drone pilots.

The solution can be used in a variety of industries, including mining, hospitality and security, RocketDNA business development manager Damien Strauss says.

The drone system can be stored on site and is operated remotely, enabling customers to leverage the benefits of evolving drone technology without having to acquire certification or directly buying the drone.

RocketDNA manages the drone’s maintenance, thereby enabling customers to focus on their core business, Strauss concludes.