This year, DroneCon will have more than 40 keynote speakers consisting of international and local experts, discussing different topics and issues within the drone industry.

DroneCon and Centurion-based company United Drone Holdings CEO Sean Reitz states that the conference, taking place for the second time, is one of the only events of its kind in Africa, where everyone from the pilots and aspiring pilots, customers who use drones – or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – regularly, and the regulator are invited to attend and share information.

He explains that the first day will begin with presentations from keynote speakers, and boasts drone pilot training sessions. Beyond Visual Line of Sight flight and how it could work in South Africa will be a major theme of the event. There will also be a session discussing an economic impact study of the drone/UAV industry in 2018, which will give a clearer indication of the drone/UAV market.

“We are also expecting advisory firm Deloitte and Intel to send a delegation from the US. They will discuss the impact of the drones/UAVs on some of their customers and other large-scale users,” Reitz illustrates.

Further, he explains that the event is a way for companies and the average person to learn about drones/UAVs.

“Industrial and mining clients are often looking into drones/UAVs as solutions for a variety of problems, but they also do not understand the industry or rules fully. This conference allows businesses to send people there and leave three days later as relatively knowledgeable about what their options are,” enthuses Reitz.

Moreover, he notes that it is a way for companies to understand how to go about organising drones for their operations, what legalities are involved and understand how to go about getting pilot and operating licences.

“This way, the private and public sector will not waste time and money on something they may not be able to operate legally in the end,” emphasises Reitz.

Some of the topics for the conference are ‘Drones in a digital revolution’, ‘Distinguishing between legal and illegal drone operators’, and updates from the South African Civil Aviation Authority and the Commercial Unmanned Aircraft Association of Southern Africa.

“With there being a lack of knowledge pertaining to drones/UAVs, DroneCon will rectify this,” Reitz points out.

DroneCon will take place from May 16 to 18 at the Vodacom World Conference Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg.