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South African Drone Laws

101.01.7 RPA Sales and Re-Sales Labelling

  • Notice for Sellers:
    When selling or re-selling an RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft), the seller must notify the purchaser of the following information:

Private Use Guidelines:

  • Non-Commercial Use:
    • The RPA may only be used for personal and private purposes, with no commercial outcomes, interests, or gain.
    • The RPA can only be operated on property the operator owns or has permission to use.
  • Operational Limits:
    • Operations must be within Restricted Visual Line of Sight (R-VLOS), meaning within 500m of the pilot and never higher than the highest obstacle within 300m.
    • The pilot must maintain direct unaided visual contact with the RPA for collision avoidance.
  • Legal Compliance:
    • The pilot must adhere to all relevant laws regarding liability, privacy, and any other legal matters enforced by authorities.

For All Other Uses (Commercial):

  • Authorization:
    • The RPA must be approved by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) through an RPA Letter of Authority (RLA).
    • All RPAs must be registered with SACAA before use.
  • Pilot Licensing:
    • The pilot must hold an RPA Pilot License to operate the drone under Part 101.

Definitions:

  • Private Operation:
    • Use for an individual’s personal and private purposes, with no commercial outcome.
  • Restricted Visual Line-of-Sight (R-VLOS):
    • The RPA must stay within 500m of the pilot and below the height of the highest obstacle within 300m, where the pilot maintains direct unaided visual contact.

General Safety and Legal Responsibilities:

  • The remote pilot is fully responsible for flying the RPA safely, ensuring it does not endanger other aircraft, people, or property.
  • The pilot must comply with all relevant laws regarding liability, privacy, and any other enforceable laws.

Limitations and Restrictions for Safe Operation:

  1. Private Operations:
    • Conducted only within R-VLOS.
    • Class 1A or 1B RPA (mass < 7 kg, Impact energy < 15 kJ) are the only acceptable categories for private operations.
  2. Restricted Areas for Flying:
    • No flying near manned aircraft.
    • Avoid flying within 10 km of airports, helipads, or airfields.
    • Do not fly in controlled, restricted, or prohibited zones.
  3. Proximity Restrictions:
    • Do not fly within 50m of:
      • People or groups (e.g., at sports fields, races, stadiums, schools, events).
      • Public roads.
      • Properties without explicit permission from the property owner.
  4. Daylight and Weather Conditions:
    • Fly only in daylight and clear weather conditions.

For full details, always ensure you refer to Part 101 of the South African Civil Aviation Regulations, available directly from SACAA’s website.