Lesson 1International and national aviation authorities: roles and primary guidance documents (ICAO, FAA, EASA, Transport Canada, CAA UK)This lesson introduces international and national aviation authorities regulating drones. You'll learn their roles, key guidance documents, and how ICAO standards shape FAA, EASA, and other regional frameworks relevant to South African operations.
Role of ICAO and relevant UAS standardsOverview of FAA structure and UAS guidanceEASA framework and implementing rules for UASTransport Canada and Canadian RPAS regulationsCAA UK guidance and CAP documents for dronesComparing terminology across major authoritiesLesson 2Insurance, liability, and privacy law overview: minimum coverages, client contracts, data protection and consent requirementsThis lesson covers insurance, liability, and privacy rules for drone work in South Africa. You'll study minimum coverages, contract clauses, data protection duties, and obtaining consent for filming people or private property.
Types of drone insurance and key policy termsMinimum coverages for typical commercial jobsIndemnity, limitation of liability, and warrantiesPrivacy expectations in public and private spacesConsent, model releases, and client permissionsData retention, storage, and secure sharing practicesLesson 3Pilot licensing requirements: types of certificates, knowledge exams, recurrent training, medical/fitness standardsThis lesson details pilot licensing for commercial UAS in South Africa. You'll explore certificate types, exam topics, recurrent training, and how medical or fitness standards impact your ability to operate.
Types of commercial UAS certificates and ratingsEligibility, age, and identification requirementsKnowledge exam topics and study resourcesPractical skills checks and proficiency standardsRecurrent training and renewal obligationsMedical fitness, self assessment, and reportingLesson 4Local restrictions and landowner permissions: municipal bylaws, critical infrastructure, prisons, hospitals, schoolsThis lesson explains local restrictions and landowner permissions affecting drone flights in South Africa. You'll learn to research bylaws, manage critical sites, and get written approval from property owners or managers.
Researching municipal bylaws and local ordinancesFlying near critical infrastructure and utilitiesRestrictions around prisons and law enforcement sitesHospitals, heliports, and emergency operationsOperations near schools, parks, and playgroundsRequesting and documenting landowner permissionLesson 5Restricted and controlled airspace: class definitions, NOTAMs, TFRs, Temporary Flight Restrictions and how to check themThis lesson covers controlled and restricted airspace in South Africa, including classes, NOTAMs, and TFRs. You'll identify limits, read notices, and verify restrictions before commercial flights.
Airspace class categories and basic characteristicsSpecial use airspace and prohibited areasWhat NOTAMs are and why they matterFinding and reading NOTAM details for UASUnderstanding TFRs and common drone impactsPreflight workflow to confirm current restrictionsLesson 6How to obtain special authorizations and waivers: application process, documentation required, typical timelinesThis lesson guides obtaining special authorizations and waivers in South Africa. You'll cover application steps, documentation, safety cases, and managing timelines and conditions post-approval.
When waivers or special approvals are requiredGathering operational data to support requestsWriting a safety case and risk mitigation planCompleting online waiver application formsTypical review timelines and follow up actionsComplying with waiver conditions and recordkeepingLesson 7Drone registration requirements: thresholds, marking, renewal, transfer rulesThis lesson details drone registration in South Africa, including weight thresholds, marking, renewals, and transfers. You'll register fleets, label aircraft, and maintain records per legal requirements.
Weight and use thresholds that trigger registrationOnline registration portals and required dataAssigning registration numbers to each aircraftMarking and labeling drones for identificationRenewal schedules and updating registration dataTransferring ownership and deregistering dronesLesson 8Operational limitations: maximum altitude, VLOS/EVLOS rules, night operations, BVLOS basics and waiversThis lesson addresses core operational limits for commercial drones in South Africa. You'll study maximum altitude, VLOS and EVLOS rules, night operations, and BVLOS basics, including waiver needs.
Maximum altitude and distance limitationsVLOS and EVLOS definitions and best practicesNight operations: lighting and extra precautionsWeather minima and visibility considerationsPeople, property, and congestion separation rulesBVLOS concepts and when waivers are neededLesson 9How to find and interpret your country/region’s Part/Rule for commercial UAS operations (search strategies and official sources)This lesson shows locating and interpreting South Africa's main UAS rule. You'll practice search strategies, use official sources, and track amendments affecting operations.
Identifying the primary UAS regulation in your regionUsing official aviation authority rule databasesReading definitions, applicability, and scope sectionsLocating operating rules, pilot duties, and limitsTracking amendments, advisory circulars, and FAQsBuilding a personal reference library of key rulesLesson 10Sources and tools for airspace checks: official maps, aviation apps, UAS geofencing portals, and NOTAM servicesThis lesson presents tools for airspace checks before flights in South Africa. You'll compare charts, apps, portals, and NOTAM services, building a workflow for safe commercial planning.
Official aeronautical charts and UAS mapsGovernment UAS portals and web map servicesUsing aviation and EFB apps for drone planningNOTAM and TFR alert services and subscriptionsManufacturer geofencing maps and unlock toolsStandardized preflight airspace check checklist
