New rules will help limit use of drones

NEW regulations aimed at clamping down on the operating of drones will come into effect in July, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said yesterday.

CAA director Poppy Khoza said the regulations were aimed at addressing safety concerns around remotely piloted aircraft systems, commonly known as drones.

The new regulations include restricting drones from flying within 50m of any person or building or within 10km of any aerodrome.

In addition, roads cannot be used to launch or land a drone and the operators must have their remote pilot licences.

It is also illegal to drop or deploy any object from a re- motely piloted aircraft.

Khoza said remote pilot licences also had restrictions, including that applicants needed to be older than 18, hold a Class 4 medical certificate and have a certificate of proficiency in aeronautical radiotelephony.

Drones are also not allowed to be flown near a nuclear power plant, prison, police station, crime scene, court or national key point.

“Drones are a relatively new component of the civil aviation framework,” Khoza said.

“Their rapid advancement has caught many regulators worldwide by surprise.”

She warned the CAA had streamlined its enforcement processes to deal with drone operators who ignored the rules and “put aviation safety and security in jeopardy”.