"Essentially the new rules require a person who
operates a drone to have a CAA approved and valid remote pilot licence
as well as a letter of approval to operate the drone. Approval letters
will be issued for 12 months at a time.
Drones
also cannot be sold unless the seller makes the purchaser aware of the
SACAA’s criteria but proof of licence does not seem to be a prerequisite
for purchase.
Those who fly drones adjacent
to or above a nuclear power plant, prison, police station, crime scene,
court of law, national key point or strategic installation will be seen
as breaking the law.
Cannot fly within 50m of crowds
Additionally,
drones cannot be flown within 50m above or close to a person or crowd
of people, structure or building - without prior SACAA approval.
The new regulations also states that an RPA shall give way to manned aircraft.
In
addition to this, RPA pilots will be required to tune into the air
traffic services for the controlled airspace they will be flying in as
well as keep a logbook of all flying times and distances. "Some of this is a bit severe, and I'm sure after a bit of time they will be loosened a bit. I think one thing is to have different rules for the capability of each drone. Toy drones don't need as much restriction as an octocopter than can lift several pounds, for example.
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