CAA Requirements for South African Drone Pilots

1. Overview of Part 101

Commercial drone operations in South Africa are regulated under Part 101 of the South African Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs). Any person flying a drone commercially — meaning they receive payment, directly or indirectly, for a flight — must comply with Part 101.

• You must hold a valid Remote Pilot Licence (RPL) issued by the SA CAA.
• Your drone must be registered as an RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) with the CAA.
• The operator (company or individual) must hold a valid ROC (RPAS Operator Certificate) unless operating under an approved exemption.
• You must carry public liability insurance for the drone.
• Flight operations must comply with airspace restrictions, visibility limits, and distance rules at all times.

2. Remote Pilot Licence (RPL)

The RPL is the core qualification for commercial drone pilots in South Africa. It is issued by the Civil Aviation Authority after completing approved training, passing a theory exam, and completing a practical flight assessment.

RPL Requirements

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Hold a valid South African ID or passport.
• Complete an approved RPL theory course with a CAA-approved training organisation (ATO).
• Pass the CAA RPL theory examination (minimum 75% pass mark).
• Complete a practical flight assessment with a qualified examiner.
• Hold a valid Class 4 medical certificate (or higher) issued by an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).
• Submit a completed RPL application form to the CAA with the applicable fees.

3. RPAS Operator Certificate (ROC)

The ROC is issued to the operator of an RPAS — this may be an individual or a company. It certifies that the operator has an approved operations manual, safety procedures, and meets all CAA requirements to conduct commercial drone operations.

• An Operations Manual (OM) must be written, approved by the CAA, and followed at all times.
• All RPAS used under the ROC must be listed and registered.
• The ROC holder is responsible for all pilots operating under the certificate.
• ROC applications are submitted to the CAA RPAS Licensing division.
• The CAA may conduct ramp inspections at any time to verify compliance.

4. RPAS Registration

Every drone used commercially must be registered with the CAA as an RPAS. Registration is per-aircraft, not per-pilot.

• Each drone must have a unique CAA registration number displayed on the aircraft.
• Registration is done via the CAA's online portal or at a CAA office.
• The registration certificate must be available during every flight (physical or digital copy).
• If you purchase or modify a drone, the new/modified aircraft must be registered separately.

5. Insurance

Public liability insurance is mandatory for commercial drone operations in South Africa. Without it, you are personally liable for any damages or injuries caused during a flight.

• Minimum coverage: R1 000 000 per incident (most professional policies start at R5 million).
• The policy must specifically cover RPAS/drone operations — standard business insurance typically does not.
• Insurance must be valid and current for every job. Lofft verifies your insurance certificate on upload.
• Some clients (particularly corporate and government) require higher coverage — always check the job brief.

6. Standard Operating Rules (Part 101)

Even with a valid RPL and ROC, pilots must follow the operational rules set out in Part 101 on every flight.

• Fly only in daylight hours (VLOS — Visual Line of Sight) unless a specific BVLOS approval has been granted by the CAA.
• Maximum altitude: 400ft (120m) AGL above the highest obstacle within a 300m radius, unless in approved airspace.
• Minimum horizontal distance from bystanders not involved in the operation: 50m. From crowds and public gatherings: 100m.
• No flight within 10km of any aerodrome without prior ATC permission.
• No flight over or within 50m of congested areas, including roads, unless in controlled conditions.
• No flight at night without specific CAA approval.
• Alcohol/drugs: a pilot may not operate within 8 hours of consuming alcohol or under the influence of any substance.
• A pre-flight check must be conducted before every flight and logged in the Operations Manual flight log.
• The pilot must carry their RPL, RPAS registration certificate, and ROC at all times during commercial operations.

7. Airspace & Authorisation

South Africa's airspace is managed by ATNS (Air Traffic Navigation Services). Certain areas require permission before flying.

• Controlled airspace (Class C, D): requires prior ATC approval via ATNS. Submit requests at least 48 hours in advance.
• Restricted areas (military zones, national key points): generally prohibited without explicit approval from the relevant authority.
• National parks and nature reserves: apply to SANParks or the relevant conservation authority separately from CAA.
• Use the SACAA DronePort or similar approved apps to check real-time airspace restrictions before every flight.

8. Documents Required by Lofft

Lofft verifies every pilot before their profile goes live. The following documents must be uploaded to your Lofft dashboard. Our team reviews each submission manually — please allow 2–3 business days.

9. Penalties for Non-Compliance

Flying commercially without the required licences and documents is a criminal offence in South Africa.

• Operating an RPAS commercially without an RPL: fine of up to R50 000 and/or 10 years imprisonment under the Civil Aviation Act.
• Operating without a valid ROC: administrative penalties, suspension of operations, and potential prosecution.
• Flying in restricted airspace without authorisation: potential aircraft impoundment and criminal charges.
• Operating without valid insurance: full personal liability for all damages, plus CAA penalties.