UAV regulations for use in civil airspace likely by next March

22nd August 2014

By: Keith Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

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The South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) hopes to have finalised regulations for the flying of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) – also designated remotely piloted air systems (RPASes) and popularly called drones – in the country’s civilian airspace by the end of the current financial year (which ends on March 31, 2015). This has been revealed in a written answer from Transport Minister Dipuo Peters to a question posed by Democratic Alliance MP Thomas Hadebe.

“The process of developing regulations in this regard takes consideration of the unique new safety and security risks presented by the operation of RPASes, in South African airspace,” pointed out Peters. “Given the wide-ranging applications, it becomes prudent that the regulations are applied equally to all operators of RPAS, more so given that the risks presented by the operation of RPASes remain comparatively similar, regardless of application.”

Safety risks, she pointed out, included that of an air-to-air collision with another aircraft, with consequent deaths, as well as that of an RPAS crashing and causing death, injury and/or damage on the ground. Further, should an RPAS powered by petroleum or lithium batteries crash, particularly in a nature reserve, it could cause a veld fire, which could endanger animal life.

Regarding the last risk, Hadebe had also asked if the CAA would allow the use of “drones” in an antipoaching role. The Minister’s reply noted that risks applied to all RPAS operations, including antipoaching missions. She also expressed concern that poachers might themselves make use of UAVs. Caution was thus required.

“In all cases, a comprehensive analysis of inherent risk factors should be carried out before approval is granted,” she stated. “Addi-tionally, it would be unconstitutional to permit the use of RPAS technology in one sector whilst restricting other users.”

The Minister also cited security risks with RPASes. The privacy of South Africans could not be guaranteed. There was the danger that a UAV command and control link could be hacked and the aircraft hijacked. An RPAS could be used to carry contraband, including guns and drugs, into prisons or other locations. A UAV could also be employed to attack a person by being deliberately flown into him or her. A bomb could be attached to an RPAS to attack people or property.

“An intentional act to commit an anony-mous act of terrorism [is another risk] due to the fact that it is often impossible to know who is controlling an RPA and/or who the owner is,” she highlighted. “RPAs have the technology to be flown anonymously beyond the visual line of sight for hundreds of kilometres, using global positioning system tracking.”

Peters pointed out that UAVs had many applications. These included – in the order listed in the answer – railway safety, crop science and livestock control, disaster control (for situational awareness), private security, research and science, coastal research, com-plex industrial inspection (of oil, gas and utility plants), search and rescue, illegal drug trafficking and gas operations monitoring.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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