THE complaint that the SA Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is making it prohibitive for drone pilots to get licences, owing to excessive cost and red tape (ZO 8 May), has been contested.
Responding to the article, Johannesburg drone pilot Raymond Barske gives a differing viewpoint, saying the CAA is not entirely to blame.
‘If one wishes to operate a commercial civil aviation operation, a full understanding is needed.
‘Simply put, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) sets international regulations that govern and bind global civil aviation operations.
‘ICAO has regulations governing the use of drones, and to be compliant, the SA CAA had to also draw up national regulations governing their use.
‘Persons or organisations wishing to conduct commercial drone operations have to, in turn, compile organisational policies and procedures (Operation Manual) that are in line with CAA regulations.
‘The reason for and origin of aviation regulations is to ensure the safe conduct of civil aviation operations.
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‘Drones share the same national airspace as manned aircraft, so drone regulations are therefore necessary. The golden thread is from ICAO all the way down to the operator.’
Barske agrees the process is laborious, costly and time consuming, but says one does not have to follow the same process as to register as an airline.
‘However, there are operators who have taken the time and trouble to become legitimate drone operators.
‘If these operators could do it, there is no justification for drone owners to operate illegitimately.
‘The illegitimate operators are taking away the income from legitimate operators.
‘On the brighter side, word on the street is that regulations are being formulated that will make provision for small, one-man type operators,’ says Barske, who is in no way connected to the ICAO or the CAA.
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