UAV Industries (UAVI), the Western Cape’s only drone pilot training centre, with just four training schools currently in South Africa, has certified its first batch of 14 graduates. These are the first trained pilots who are authorised to fly drones in the region. This spells the commencement of new jobs in the country for a brand new industry.
UAVI chief instructor, Greg Donaldson, explained, “People think that drones are just good for Cape Town’s booming film industry, but there are a wide diversity of industries that will need, and employ, certified drone pilots – media and advertising particularly will also be huge. Anything that manned aviation does today that doesn’t involve the transportation of passengers will be taken over by drones over the next five to ten years so there’s huge opportunities for the industry. Things are moving incredibly quickly.’
To fly a drone legally the operator needs three items of paperwork: the drone, pilot and company all need to be licenced.
“What we’re offering through our training school is the ability to licence the pilot and to get the equivalent in manned aviation of a commercial pilot’s licence. There is a pre-on site programme and then there’s two weeks full time on site between the ground school and flight school, totalling three to four weeks in total.’
Donaldosn said that being a drone pilot is a “future-proof job.’ A large function of how much the pilot can expect to earn per day depends on the equipment with drones varying in size from the size of a smart phone to a motor car.
Gizela Parker, candidate attorney at Webber Wentzel posed this question on Tech Central, “Are SA’s new drone regulations overkill?’ Parker said that new regulations could put a dampener on innovation around drones in South Africa. “The pilot of the drone requires an RPA pilot licence, which is valid for two years, will only be issued if the pilot is 18 years or older, has a medical certificate, a radiotelephony certificate, English proficiency, completed flight training and passed both a theoretical examination and a skills test,’ said Parker.
To find out more about drone pilots visit the UAVI website.
To read the full article visit the Tech Central Website.
