UNMANNED aerial vehicles (UAV), or drones, are spawning a new growth industry in SA. However, it is an industry into which entry is now strictly regulated.The SA Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) laid down the rules on July 1 2015 when its drone regulations came into force. Under the regulations all drone pilots who intend to operate commercially must now have a remote pilot’s licence (RPL).“SA is the first country to require formal training and licensing of commercial UAV pilots,” says Ian Melamed CE of Benoni-based ProWings Training. Melamed is one of only five RPL instructors to be authorised by the CAA so far.Drones may be a lot smaller than their manned counterparts but that is where the difference ends. “The requirements and rating system for a remote pilot’s licence are the same as in normal aviation. All pilots are working in the same airspace and must understand the environment and know what to do if something goes wrong.”To secure a licence a would-be drone pilot must first p...
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