Demand for hobbyist drone training grows in SA
With the cost of hobbyist drones ranging from under R1,000 for miniature versions such as the Blade Inductrix to around R25,000 for the popular DJI Mavic Pro and even R35,000 for the DJI Phantom, it’s clear people are forking out substantial amounts of money for this modern-day hobby. For many however, actually getting to grips with flying a drone is not as easy as they anticipate and the result is invariably a damaged drone and more costs incurred.
Following an influx of requests for a fundamental drone flying course from hobbyists around South Africa, Drone Racing Africa (DRA) have designed a certificate course aimed at giving a complete beginner a sound knowledge and understanding of local hobbyist drone legislation and the physical competency to fly a drone.
Simon Robinson, Drone Racing Africa CEO explains, “The course takes place over 1.5 days and consists of theory, simulator and practical modules. Classroom components include navigation and planning, air law and procedures and principles of flight, among others. Simulator training concentrates on line of sight flying, throttle management, hover control and turning over axes.”
In order to obtain the certificate, students will need to pass a flight test, examined by a SAMAA certified Instructor. On a global scale, drone racing has been quoted as ‘the sport of the future’. For Robinson and his team, the main objective is to be the driving force behind the growth of the sport in South Africa and to open up the opportunities of drone flying on a social and professional level to both formal and informal communities around the country. DRA also recognises the relevance of drone flying within the STEM Development programme that is used at many schools, so its relevance continues to grow across countless audiences and sectors.
Industry calls for constant innovation
Technology is constantly developing and there is no doubt that what is common practice now may be soon outdated. For this reason, DRA will ensure that its courses stay on top of and ahead of the development curve. In addition to the certificate flying course, DRA is launching a Drone Building course in the coming months that will teach students not only to fly correctly and safely, but also offers the technical know-how behind the assembly of a drone. DRA’s commercial drone partner, UAV Industries, operates a CAA certified Flight School and runs suitable follow-on training courses such as the Remote Pilot Licence (RPL) and Instructor Pilot Licence (IPL), which are aimed at hobbyist flyers who wish to turn drone flying into a legal and licensed career.
The devil in the detail
According to Greg Donaldson, SAMAA certified Instructor, it’s getting acquainted with small details that can take a beginner to a competent recreational pilot, “The average newbie to drone flying won’t have an understanding of, for example, the KP Index. This is the global geomagnetic storm index. It’s important to consider because of the impact that a geometric storm has on satellite strength which will impact the preferred flight mode for a drone. If the KP Index is high (>5 on a scale of 0-9), then it is likely that satellite strength is negatively impacted which will cause errors to occur in a drone’s GPS Programming. A high KP Index doesn’t mean that a pilot should not fly at all, but rather that they should switch from GPS Mode to Attitude (‘Atti’) Mode for greater accuracy and controlled flight.”
He adds, “Understanding the KP Index is crucial to understanding the macro elements of drone flying and highlights the importance of knowing one’s craft and possessing the required skills to fly a drone correctly and safely.”
Drone racing league – the new ‘book club’ or ‘poker night’
For drone racing pilots keen to compete against their local drone racing community, the DRA racing league is open to anyone who has completed a course with DRA or is already a competent drone flyer. Leagues are currently running in Johannesburg (Sandton) and Cape Town (Constantia), with racing events in each city taking place twice a month. Interested racers need to book a spot at the event, which can be done through the DRA events calendar on the website at www.droneracingafrica.com. Racers can hire equipment from DRA on the night or may bring and use their own.
This relatively new industry means that few people are aware of air laws and could easily find themselves in contravention of these laws as set out by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). Learning how to fly a drone properly and staying on the right side of the law is a no-brainer for anyone keen to get involved in this exciting new techno-sport.