SOUTH AFRICA DRONE LAWS

Are drones legal in South Africa?

Yes, drones are legal to fly in South Africa as long as you follow the basic rules.

Who to contact? To get in touch with the Civil Aviation Authority, limit your reach out during official work hours. Contact information Johannesburg Email: rpasinbox@caa.co.za Tel: +270115451000 Cape Town Email: rpasinbox@caa.co.za Tel: +270219344744

What are the drone rules in South Africa?

• Recreational use requires no registration If the purpose of your drone flight is recreational, you do not have to register your drone or seek any licenses. However, the SACAA RPAS rules and regulations still apply.

• Maximum of 7k drone A recreational drone user should not fly a drone exceeding 7 Kg. This should not be a problem as hobby pilots aren’t allowed to transport cargo or carry passengers.

• No night flying Night flying is prohibited and day travel is only authorized if the weather is clear.

• Line of sight You must always maintain a visual line of sight in what is referred to as R-VLOS.

• 500m max range The maximum distance permitted for the drone pilot is 500 m while maintaining direct sight.

• 120m max height The drone should fly no higher than 120 m (400 ft) from ground

• 50m distance Keep away (50 m) from buildings, people and roads.

• 10km from airports Maintain a healthy 10 Km or more away from any airport

• NO fly zonez You can look up the no-fly zones within the country. Good examples are prisons, courts of law, nuclear power plants, and a lot more.

Other restricted spaces are the national parks as the drones can irritate the animals with their noise. Special conservation drones are used in the parks and these require the user to have a remote pilot license and special permission to operate. Further clarification can be found on the SANPARKS website

You must have permission to fly over someone’s property.

Can I bring a drone to South Africa?

Yes, provided you personally own the drone.

Where to fly my drone while in South Africa

A look at the app will point out the areas that need attention and those that do not. Avoid going near any military infrastructure or any property of national significance.

Rules on commercial drone use in South Africa

Going by law, South Africa requires any use of drones that results in a transactional exchange be classified as a commercial drone use. If you fall under this category you need a drone license for yourself and registration for the drone. In the event you are a foreigner with a drone pilot license, you should have it validated and approved by contacting gouwene@caa.co.za The eligibility test for commercial drone use is:

1. Over 18 years of age

2. Good health medical assessment report

3. English language proficiency

Should I get a drone license in South Africa?

Contact a registered training academy in the country. You can find them here. The license is normally in two parts:

• The theory and practical exam

• Special form

How long does my license in South Africa remain valid? The license remains valid for two years from the date it was certified. Upon certification, fill out this form.

How to register a drone in South Africa

1. Fill out this form (Form CA-47R1)

How old must one be to register for a drone in South Africa? To be eligible for drone registration, you should be 16 years old. Can I be penalized for illegally flying a drone in South Africa? As with everywhere else, the severity of your punishments depends on the charge levied against you. If you are lucky, you will part with a hefty fine of 3,500 Rand. If unlucky, you are looking at 10 years worth of jail time.

Restricted Areas and Geofencing (drone FLying map)

The best way to figure out what areas you can fly in, while you're here is by consulting DJI offilicial map. They do a great job mapping the places that one should avoid while flying in every country:

• airports

• military bases

• prisons

• power plants

• any high risk areas
  

These would be the current updated drone laws for South Africa.