In theory manned aviation is meant to keep above 500ft AGL. The idea is that Drones keep below 400ft AGL and there is a 100ft seperation layer between the flight levels of manned vs unmanned.
now many planes fly illegally below this level and this is not policed, esp in more rural areas, and have always done so or gotten away with it.
Now drones have come into the picture and changed things. this space is occupied. It doesnt help that there are many drone pilots that have no ideas of the regulations and fly illegally at 500m or high altutudes or near airports etc.
Btw without an ROC (aka private use) you should only be flying 150 ft AGL or not higher than the highest object within 300m (like if there was a 70m smoke stack you could fly to that level)
CAA see -
http://www.caa.co.za/Documents/RPAS/K-12612 CAA RPAS Flyer Con_ V10.pdf
Do not fly/operate Remotely Piloted Aircraft, or toy aircraft higher than 150 ft from the ground, unless approved by the Director of Civil Aviation of the SACA
CAA see-
http://www.caa.co.za/Documents/RPAS/K-12369 CAA RPAS_roll-fold brochureV7_print.pdf
A.
Extract from the AIP - ENR 1 GENERAL RULES AND PROCEDURES
1 Minimum Heights
1) Except when necessary for taking off or landing, or except with prior written approval
of the Director, no aircraft -
a) shall be flown over built-up areas or over an open-air assembly of persons at a
height less than 1 000 feet above the highest obstacle, within a radius of 2000 feet
from the aircraft;
b) when flown elsewhere than specified in paragraph (a), shall be flown at a height
less than 500 feet above the ground or water, unless the flight can be made without
hazard or nuisance to persons or property on the ground or water
So in summary:
So the Manned plane flying below 500ft AGL is flying illegally and can be reported, unless their is an airport and on approach etc.
So is there an airport near you? If so where is the flight path? If not, Have you confirmed this 100%?
Do you have an ROC or not, if not you legally are meant to be below 50m/150ft AGL) - remember 120m/ 400ft AGL is only for ROC licence holders (not just an RPL)
Thank you for this thorough analysis.
The area in question is an open piece of parkland / veld next to Hartbeespoort Dam.
The closest airports / airfields is Brits airfield, Lanseria Intl. or Wonderboom. I was not within 10km of any known airport / airfield.
What these small aircraft pilots do is they get tourists to fly with them over the dam. They swoop down very low (for the views, and the thrill, I suppose) that it has actually become extremely annoying to residents. The same goes with choppers / micro light aircraft / motorised paragliders etc. There are so many "things" flying around here on weekends, it's crazy!
Being at the shoreline of a dam, it is relatively easy to keep a good eye on your drone - so I prefer going there, not only for the joy of flying safely, but also for the splendid 4k video opportunities. I deliberately try to avoid "crowded" air space around the dam in fear of causing an accident or losing my drone.
The area in question is very close to a high cliff paralell to the shoreline. I rgularly fly my drone up to that height in order to capture footage of the drone coming over the cliff and then panning over the dam. Would that count as flying at the height of the nearest obstacle?
I noticed said pilot many times before and I don't know which time I was in his "way" or how many times it happened before. I kind of took my kit and left. Didn't feel like fighting when I went there to enjoy the day.
He will regularly swoop down lower than the mountain and fly along the shoreline or over the dam. I see him criss crossing over the area, so I'm also really not sure if he has a single registered flight path.
I'm willing to accept if I was wrong by flying too high or in a no-fly zone for drones (like at Pelindaba), but I really don't think I was in the wrong.
It's the 21st century. Isn't it amazing how far tech has come? I don't have to fork out millions of Rands and pay for expensive flying lessons in order to capture aerial imagery anymore. I get the idea that pilots of aircraft are annoyed by this.
I know there are lots of irresponsible drone pilots out there and that needs to be dealt with. But giving me crap for flying my little 249g drone in my own area legally (as far as I could tell)... Give me a break!
This kind of behaviour is making me wonder what the consequences are if someone shoots down your drone. How would you even tell who it was? I'm starting to think people's pettiness will ruin drone flying for Joe Public in the end.
