SACAA on track to introduce UAV regulations by March 2015

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The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) says it is on track with the finalization of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) regulations, which are set to be put in place by March next year, and has denied that it is struggling to formulate these new rules.

Until regulations have been put in place governing the use of UAVs, anyone operating a UAV could face a R50 000 fine or up to ten years in prison, or both, according to the SACAA.

In April this year the Authority said it was set to clamp down on the illegal flying, in civil airspace, of unmanned aircraft, with heavy fines for those who break the law.

According to Defense Web UAVs operating on private land or restricted airspace also do not comply with SACAA requirements and are therefore also illegal to operate.
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However, people flying UAVs in South Africa cannot be fined by the SACAA because although flying UAVs is illegal, there are no laws in place to be broken, according to Hennie Kieser, director and chairman of the Commercial Unmanned Aircraft Association of South Africa (CUAASA).