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Drone Legislation

By May 29, 2017February 27th, 2020City Notifications

Legislation regarding drone usage

Update: 12 June 2017

The post below (29 May 2017) received a number of questions. The NRPA has received feedback as follows:

– All Requirements published by NRPA apply to Private/Hobby Operators.
– Commercial, Corporate and non-profit  Operators requirement a RPAS
Operators Certificate, which has different specifications on flight
height, permission to fly at night etc.
– An RPAS Certificate does not apply to Private/Hobby Operators.
– Private/Hobby Operators do not require a Licence.
– In order to fly at night , one is required to have an RPAS Operators
Certificate which is not applicable to Private/Hobby Operators

Any high Obstacle within a 300 meter radius of the aircraft, RPA’s need to remain below the highest point of the Obstacle.

DO NOT’s:
– Do not fly/operate in controlled, restricted, prohibited Airspaces.  e.g.
10km or closer to an Aerodrome, Near Manned Aircraft, National key areas
e.g.. SAN Parks, Police Stations, Courts of Law etc
– Do not fly/operate RPA’s heavier than 7kg.
Thank you
29 May 2017

There has been quite a bit of conversation on social media recently about drones over flying homes in Noordhoek and the legislation relating to this activity. The NRPA has done some investigation and report the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) legislation regarding Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), including drones, below.

Pilots must Observe all Statutory Requirements relating to Liability, Privacy, Noise Pollution etc.

DO NOTs:
– endanger Safety of another Aircraft or Person or Property through negligent flying/operating RPA’s
– Fly/operate RPA’s 50 meters or closer to Persons, Group of People eg. Sporting Events, Social Events, Schools etc.
– Fly/operate 50 meters from Property Owner without Owner Permission
– Fly/Operate Higher than 150ft from the Ground

DO’s:
– RPA’s should remain within Visual line of sight of Operator
– RPA’s only flown in daylight & clear Weather conditions

As Drone Technology is relatively new, and some operators including kids are not aware of legislation, we suggest that the approach should be that individuals first have a conversation with RPA operators if they are contravening any of the above.  If there is no changed behaviour then possibly take it further.

We have requested  information from the Aviation Authority, of where we could report RPA operators who refuse to comply. We will advise once we receive further information.

NRPA EXCO

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