Video from SteadiDrone, whose APM-powered QU4D we fly all the time and love
Robohub has a good report on South African drone community, which had enjoyed light regulation but is now facing strict rules:
A couple of years ago, while I was living in Cape Town, I met a group of people who were so into drones and aerial filming that they managed to initiate me into the world of UAVs. It turns out that South African soil is fertile ground for UAV enthusiasm and businesses. Therefore, I will dedicate this post to the thriving drone community of the Republic of South Africa.
Let’s start with the legislation: there is none. SACAA, the South African Civil Aviation Authority created confusion some two months ago, when it firstly declared a ban on the use of drones for aerial filming, and then issued this statement, which basically says that SACAA doesn’t ban something that is illegal already. The only problem is that it is not illegal, since there is no legislation covering the issue. Meanwhile, the Cape Town Film Commission has been in discussion with the SACAA, the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Trade and Industry as well as the Deputy Mayor of Cape Town, and has requested that the SACAA implement their model aircraft policy for use of the drones.
If approved, the policy will require adopting the below guidelines, which are similar to those used in Europe and Australia:
- Flying only under 120m
- No flying within 4.2 nautical miles of an airport
- Flying only in line of sight of the operator (500m)
- No auto pilot flying or night flying
- No flying over public property and roads without permission
Meanwhile, filmmakers are still flocking to Cape Town to take advantage of the breathtaking scenery and skilled local aerial filming production crews.
Where drones are being used for filming, there is no doubt someone catering to their needs and providing them with equipment. SteadiDrone (see video above) is a proudly South African UAV manufacturer, founded in 2012 in the beautiful town of Knysna. Their flagship product is the QU4D, RTF quadcopter, which uses the APM 2.5 autopilot from 3D Robotics and is able to carry a GoPro camera on board.
Read the rest here.
Comments
As I understand it under current legal framework SACAA says drones are lumped under not certified, not catered for no-type aircraft which makes them illegal by default unless exempted.
The only problem is that it is not illegal, since there is no legislation covering the issue.
So currently it IS legal as there is no legislation saying it's not?
Maybe some sense will prevail when the regulations eventually get legislated.
Same here.
Thought I'd push it a bit with the regulations but have grounded my mapping hexa because:
It is illegal.
Mapping clients know it is illegal.
On the last flight I did a little Robinson chopper came over the site exactly where I was not 5 minutes ago. Don't think they're supposed to fly that low, but I am not allowed in the air at all.
According to these guys: http://soutafricanuav.org/Home/ No permits are being issued to the film industry. They are trying to push for something before 2015, but SACAA is brick walling all communications.
Is frustrating.
HI Chris, this is news - I was under the impression that we are completely grounded. I know the UAV mapping companies are not working - draft legislation will be proposed by March 2015 (If memory serves). Here's a link to the story:http://www.news24.com/Travel/Flights/No-legal-use-of-drones-in-SA-a....
It is one thing to make rules, but enforcing them is another. They can barely police the police from soliciting bribes, how will they police drone use - and who will respond to a sighting....
I would expect that the regulation would require some sort of training for the operator and transponders or some IFF technology in the airframe.
Until then I'll run my little rover with survey grade GPS as a mapping tool on areas that allows it.:(
If I fly over an empty beach, do I need to submit in writing to the crabs? And does anyone speak/write crab?
And how do I ask for permission to fly over public property...which by it's nature is public and should be free to access?
'No autopilot flying' - that is quite ridiculous. Those of us who regularly fly drones autonomously know that when properly set up, the autopilot can fly considerably more accurately and more safely than any human, and return it to launch. I have only had one 'fly away' in my (early) drone career, and that was when I was ignorant of proper compass setup.
Not to mention that it would be impossible to independently determine whether a drone was on autopilot or not. And what about 'guided' mode?
Those operating parameters were suggested by the film industry, which doesn't seem to have the rest of the drone industry's interests at heart.
No autopilot rules could be a bit of a bummer for anyone using DJI or ardupilot...