Legitimise your Flight Credentials With Drone University
On August 9 this year at Nyika Growth Point in Bikita, Zimbabwe, a Chinese national, Dai Pengfei was spotted by police officers flying a drone approximately 15 – 20 meters above roof level. The officers requested him to produce a permit (Remote Pilot License or RPL) but he was unable to provide one. This led to his immediate arrest. He was subsequently sentenced to a fine of $200 or face 30 days of jail time.
A year ago, July 23 to be exact, Zimbabwean reporter Columbus Mavhunga was arrested after a drone he was using crashed into the Iqra Islamic Centre in the capital, Harare. He was charged on two counts of illegally flying a drone without a license and for flying within 30 meters of a building. He faced imprisonment of up to two years and/or a fine of up to US$5 000 if convicted of illegal drone flying.
Both these cases draw into focus the ramifications of flying a drone without a Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) license in Zimbabwe with eye-watering fines the underlying factor. But you could avoid the drama.
Drone University, a subsidiary of Drone Solutions, has emerged as one of the most reliable institutions that provide value when training aspiring drone pilots in Zimbabwe. Not only does it offer the RPL, it offers various courses that include: Beyond Visual Line of Sight (b-VLOS); Mapping and Data Processing; Agriculture and Photography.
For the RPL, it offers a two-week CAAZ – accredited course at competitive rates. The first week offers theory, while the second offers practical coursework. It has partnered with CAAZ to produce a world class course and at the end of it, a CAAZ instructor tests the aspiring pilots. Drone University has trained industry players from the mining, agricultural, real estate, media and security sectors just to name a few.
One of the most important things to note is that as per Statutory Instrument 271 of Civil Aviation (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) Regulations of 2018, to operate a drone legally in Zimbabwe, you need to be in possession of a Remote Pilot License (RPL.)
Here are some important factors to consider regarding drones in Zimbabwe:
· Drones can fly up to 400 feet, or 1,640 feet from the pilot with special permission and a qualified observer.
· Drones mustn’t fly within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of an airport or airfield. They also shouldn’t fly over people or large crowds, or in sensitive areas like government or military facilities.
· Drones can only fly during daylight hours and in good weather conditions. They can’t fly at night without CAAZ approval.
· Drone insurance is mandatory.
· Drones need to be registered with the CAAZ, which requires information like the drone’s type, weight, manufacturer, and serial number.
· Anyone selling a drone in Zimbabwe must notify the buyer of the CAAZ’s requirements.
· Drone University, a subsidiary of Drone Solutions, has emerged as one of the most reliable institutions that provide value when training aspiring drone pilots in Zimbabwe. It offers a two-week course at competitive rates. The first week offers theory, while the second offers practical coursework.
Contact us and find out how you could obtain your RPL and avoid all the hassles that are bound to occur when you do not have it.