South Africa to introduce new RPAS regulations

20th May 2015 - 11:00 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) announced on 17 May that it will introduce new regulations for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in civil airspace.

The SACAA will work with the nation's department of transport as well as industry players to collectively develop the new regulations.

Poppy Khoza, director, SACAA, said: 'These regulations have recently been signed by the Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, and will be published and implementable by 1 July.

'In developing the regulations, the SACAA sourced and received valuable input from relevant state entities as well as industry role players including operators, manufactures and other airspace users.'

Khoza noted that the county's aviation safety and security rating by the International Civil Aviation Organisation is above the 80% world average.

She said: 'This is the record we do not wish to compromise. In coming up with these regulations, the SACAA took into account the national safety and security needs into account.'

'As the SACAA we are not claiming that these new regulations are static. Given the rapid pace of technological development in this area, we treat the RPAS regulatory framework as continual work in progress and hence we will continue to engage with industry to refine the regulations when, where and as deemed necessary.'

Khoza urged airspace users and operators to comply with the new regulations once they come into force. The SACAA will conduct national industry workshops to discuss the regulation implementation.